CVE-2014-3541 in Moodle
Summary
by MITRE
The Repositories component in Moodle through 2.3.11, 2.4.x before 2.4.11, 2.5.x before 2.5.7, 2.6.x before 2.6.4, and 2.7.x before 2.7.1 allows remote attackers to conduct PHP object injection attacks and execute arbitrary code via serialized data associated with an add-on.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/26/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3541 affects the repositories component within Moodle learning management system across multiple versions including 2.3.11 and earlier, 2.4.x through 2.4.10, 2.5.x through 2.5.6, 2.6.x through 2.6.3, and 2.7.x through 2.7.0. This issue represents a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to perform PHP object injection attacks, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution on affected systems. The vulnerability specifically resides in how the system handles serialized data associated with add-on components within the repository functionality.
The technical flaw manifests through improper validation and handling of serialized PHP objects within the repository component. When users interact with add-on repositories, the system deserializes data without adequate sanitization or validation checks, creating an attack surface where malicious actors can inject crafted serialized objects. This deserialization process occurs in the context of the web application, allowing attackers to manipulate the object state and potentially execute arbitrary PHP code. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-502 which specifically addresses "Deserialization of Untrusted Data" and represents a classic object injection attack vector.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for organizations using affected Moodle versions. Remote attackers can leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to the system, potentially leading to complete compromise of the learning management environment. The arbitrary code execution capability allows attackers to install backdoors, steal sensitive user data, modify course content, or even use the compromised system as a launching point for attacks on other network resources. This vulnerability affects educational institutions that rely on Moodle for their online learning platforms, potentially exposing student and faculty information, grades, and personal data to unauthorized access.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to patched versions of Moodle where available, as the vulnerability was addressed in subsequent releases. System administrators should also consider implementing network-level restrictions to limit access to repository functionality, disabling unnecessary add-on repositories, and monitoring for suspicious activities in system logs. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: Python" and T1078.004 for "Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts" when considering the potential for privilege escalation and lateral movement. Additionally, implementing proper input validation, using secure deserialization practices, and conducting regular security assessments would help prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.