CVE-2014-0124 in Moodle
Summary
by MITRE
The identity-reporting implementations in mod/forum/renderer.php and mod/quiz/override_form.php in Moodle through 2.3.11, 2.4.x before 2.4.9, 2.5.x before 2.5.5, and 2.6.x before 2.6.2 do not properly restrict the display of e-mail addresses, which allows remote authenticated users to obtain sensitive information by using the (1) Forum or (2) Quiz module.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/08/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0124 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Moodle learning management system that affects multiple versions from 2.3.11 through 2.6.1. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and output filtering mechanisms within the forum and quiz modules, specifically in the mod/forum/renderer.php and mod/quiz/override_form.php files. The vulnerability allows authenticated attackers to exploit improper email address exposure mechanisms, creating a significant risk for user privacy and system security.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the forum and quiz module functionalities where email addresses are displayed without proper access controls or sanitization measures. When users interact with these modules, the system fails to adequately validate or restrict the display of user email addresses, potentially exposing sensitive contact information to unauthorized parties. This flaw operates at the application layer and specifically targets the user identity reporting functionality, making it particularly dangerous for educational institutions that rely on Moodle for student and faculty communication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates potential vectors for social engineering attacks, spam distribution, and targeted phishing campaigns. Attackers can leverage this weakness to harvest email addresses from forum discussions and quiz activities, which can then be used for malicious purposes including account takeovers, credential stuffing attacks, or the creation of fake identities within the educational environment. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor input validation practices that are commonly associated with CWE-20 - Improper Input Validation.
Organizations using affected Moodle versions face significant risks including unauthorized data access, potential privacy violations, and increased attack surface for subsequent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple release branches indicates a fundamental flaw in the codebase's security architecture rather than a simple isolated bug. Security practitioners should note that this issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1087.001 - Account Discovery: Local Account, as it enables unauthorized access to user identity information through legitimate system functions. The vulnerability also demonstrates characteristics of T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, where harvested email addresses can be used for targeted attacks.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate patching of all affected Moodle installations to the latest stable versions, which contain proper input validation and access control mechanisms. Organizations should also implement additional monitoring of forum and quiz module activities to detect anomalous access patterns. Security measures including role-based access controls, email address obfuscation, and regular security audits should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities. The fix addresses the core issue by ensuring proper validation of user permissions and implementing adequate output filtering for sensitive information, thereby protecting user privacy and maintaining system integrity in accordance with security best practices and industry standards.