CVE-2014-3544 in Moodle
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in user/profile.php 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 authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the Skype ID profile field.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2024
The CVE-2014-3544 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Moodle learning management systems across multiple version ranges including 2.3.11, 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 vulnerability specifically affects the user/profile.php component and enables authenticated attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code into the Skype ID profile field, creating a persistent security risk within the educational platform ecosystem.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the profile management system. When authenticated users submit data containing malicious scripts into their Skype ID field, the system fails to properly sanitize this input before rendering it in the user interface. This flaw allows attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions within the Moodle environment. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in software applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or unauthorized access. Attackers can leverage this weakness to establish persistent backdoors within educational institutions using Moodle, potentially compromising thousands of user accounts simultaneously. The authenticated nature of the exploit means that attackers need only gain access to a legitimate user account to begin injecting malicious code, making the attack surface significantly larger than typical unauthenticated vulnerabilities. This weakness particularly affects academic institutions where Moodle is widely deployed for online learning management, creating potential risks for student data privacy and institutional security.
Organizations affected by CVE-2014-3544 should immediately implement the vendor-provided patches for each affected version range, ensuring that all Moodle installations are updated to their respective secure versions. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing input validation measures at the application level, including HTML sanitization of profile fields and regular security audits of user-submitted content. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter indicates that attackers may use this vector to establish persistent access through malicious script injection, making proactive remediation essential. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual profile field modifications, and user education about the risks of submitting untrusted content to profile fields should be implemented as part of comprehensive security awareness training programs.