CVE-2014-0215 in Moodle
Summary
by MITRE
The blind-marking implementation in Moodle through 2.3.11, 2.4.x before 2.4.10, 2.5.x before 2.5.6, and 2.6.x before 2.6.3 allows remote authenticated users to de-anonymize student identities by (1) using a screen reader or (2) reading the HTML source.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0215 affects Moodle learning management systems across multiple versions including 2.3.11 and earlier, 2.4.x before 2.4.10, 2.5.x before 2.5.6, and 2.6.x before 2.6.3. This security flaw resides in the blind-marking implementation which is designed to protect student anonymity during the grading process. The vulnerability specifically targets the accessibility features that are intended to maintain student privacy while allowing instructors to grade assignments without revealing student identities. The implementation fails to properly obscure student information in a manner that would prevent unauthorized disclosure through standard accessibility tools or source code inspection techniques.
The technical flaw manifests in how Moodle handles blind-marking functionality when students submit assignments through the system. When instructors grade these assignments, the system should maintain student anonymity by obscuring identifying information in the grading interface. However, the implementation contains a critical weakness that allows authenticated users with basic accessibility tools to bypass these privacy protections. This occurs because the system does not properly sanitize or obscure the HTML markup that contains student identifying information, making it accessible to users who can read the source code or utilize screen reading software. The vulnerability represents a failure in proper access control and data sanitization, specifically in the area of privacy protection mechanisms within educational software.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privacy concerns to potentially compromise the entire integrity of the grading process within Moodle environments. When student identities can be de-anonymized through screen readers or HTML source inspection, it undermines the fundamental purpose of blind-marking which is to eliminate unconscious bias in grading and protect student privacy. This weakness could enable malicious actors or even well-meaning but unaware users to discover student identities, potentially leading to grade manipulation, harassment, or other forms of academic misconduct. The vulnerability affects all authenticated users within the system who have sufficient privileges to access grading interfaces, making it particularly concerning in educational environments where multiple instructors and teaching assistants may have access to the same gradebooks. This issue directly relates to CWE-200, which addresses information exposure, and affects the confidentiality and integrity of student data within the learning management system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Moodle versions to the latest available releases that contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should ensure that all Moodle installations are updated to versions that address this specific blind-marking implementation flaw. Additionally, system administrators should conduct thorough security reviews of their Moodle configurations to verify that blind-marking features are properly implemented and that no unauthorized access paths exist. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding in web applications, particularly those handling sensitive educational data. Security teams should implement monitoring for unusual access patterns to grading interfaces and consider additional access controls for sensitive administrative functions. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical need for accessibility features to be implemented with proper security considerations in mind, ensuring that privacy protections do not inadvertently create security weaknesses. The fix for CVE-2014-0215 involves proper sanitization of HTML output and implementation of secure access controls that prevent unauthorized disclosure of student information, aligning with security best practices for educational technology platforms.