CVE-2013-1832 in Moodle
Summary
by MITRE
repository/webdav/lib.php in Moodle 2.x through 2.1.10, 2.2.x before 2.2.8, 2.3.x before 2.3.5, and 2.4.x before 2.4.2 includes the WebDAV password in the configuration form, which allows remote authenticated administrators to obtain sensitive information by configuring an instance.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-1832 affects Moodle learning management systems across multiple version ranges including 2.x through 2.1.10, 2.2.x before 2.2.8, 2.3.x before 2.3.5, and 2.4.x before 2.4.2. This issue resides within the repository/webdav/lib.php component which handles WebDAV repository configurations. The flaw represents a critical information disclosure vulnerability that directly violates security principles by exposing sensitive authentication credentials inappropriately.
The technical implementation flaw occurs in the WebDAV password handling mechanism where the system fails to properly sanitize or obscure password fields within the configuration form interface. When administrators configure WebDAV repository instances, the password value becomes visible in the HTML output of the configuration form, creating an information exposure condition that persists in the user interface. This design defect stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization practices that fail to distinguish between sensitive data and regular configuration parameters.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables authenticated administrators to obtain sensitive WebDAV credentials through legitimate configuration activities, creating a significant risk for organizations relying on Moodle for educational content management. The exposure occurs during normal administrative operations when users interact with the repository configuration interface, making the attack vector both accessible and potentially undetectable. The vulnerability essentially provides a backdoor mechanism for credential harvesting that could enable attackers to escalate privileges or gain unauthorized access to external WebDAV servers.
The impact of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which categorizes improper output sanitization as a weakness leading to information disclosure. The flaw also relates to ATT&CK technique T1552.001, which covers "Credentials In Files" as attackers could potentially harvest these credentials from the configuration form output. Organizations using affected Moodle versions face heightened risk of credential compromise, particularly in environments where multiple administrators have access to repository configuration interfaces. The vulnerability represents a failure in the principle of least privilege and proper credential handling within web application security frameworks.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected Moodle versions to the latest stable releases that address this information disclosure issue. Administrators should also implement additional monitoring of repository configuration activities and consider restricting access to repository configuration interfaces to only essential personnel. The fix typically involves modifying the WebDAV library to properly mask password fields in configuration forms and ensuring that sensitive credentials are never rendered in plain text within user interfaces. Organizations should also conduct security reviews of all repository configuration components to identify similar output sanitization issues that may exist in other parts of their Moodle installations.