CVE-2014-0126 in Moodle
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in enrol/imsenterprise/importnow.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 allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that import an IMS Enterprise file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/08/2026
The CVE-2014-0126 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw discovered in Moodle learning management systems across multiple version branches including 2.3.11, 2.4.x through 2.4.8, 2.5.x through 2.5.4, and 2.6.x through 2.6.1. This vulnerability specifically affects the enrol/imsenterprise/importnow.php component which handles IMS Enterprise file imports. The flaw enables remote attackers to exploit the system by crafting malicious requests that can be executed without the administrator's knowledge or consent, effectively hijacking their authenticated sessions. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and directly impacts the authentication mechanisms of the Moodle platform, creating a significant security risk for educational institutions relying on this software.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the lack of proper authentication token validation within the IMS Enterprise import functionality. When administrators access the importnow.php script, the system should verify that the request originates from a legitimate source within the authenticated session. However, the vulnerability allows attackers to construct malicious web pages or email attachments that, when visited by an administrator, automatically submit requests to the vulnerable Moodle installation. This occurs because the application fails to implement anti-CSRF tokens or other session validation mechanisms that would prevent unauthorized requests from being processed. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery issues, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.002 for credential access through phishing with a malicious file.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for organizations using affected Moodle versions, as it provides attackers with a direct path to administrative privileges. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could import malicious IMS Enterprise files that trigger unauthorized actions within the Moodle system, potentially leading to complete system compromise. This includes the ability to modify user accounts, alter course content, access sensitive student data, or even execute arbitrary code depending on the system configuration. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal technical expertise to exploit, making it attractive to threat actors who may not have advanced penetration testing skills. Organizations with administrative users who frequently visit external websites or email attachments are at heightened risk, as these users represent the primary attack surface for this particular vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-0126 involve immediate patching of affected Moodle installations to the latest stable versions that contain the necessary CSRF protection mechanisms. Organizations should upgrade to Moodle 2.4.9, 2.5.5, or 2.6.2 respectively, which include proper anti-CSRF token implementation in the IMS Enterprise import functionality. Additionally, administrators should implement network-level controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious requests to the vulnerable import endpoints. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive audits of their Moodle installations to ensure no other similar vulnerabilities exist in related components, particularly those handling user authentication or administrative functions. The implementation of proper session management practices, including the enforcement of CSRF tokens for all administrative actions, serves as a fundamental defense against this class of attack and aligns with security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-53 and ISO/IEC 27001 frameworks.