CVE-2014-3545 in Moodle
Summary
by MITRE
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 execute arbitrary code via a calculated question in a quiz.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/04/2017
This vulnerability exists in Moodle learning management systems across multiple version ranges, specifically affecting versions 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. The flaw allows authenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through a specially crafted question within a quiz component, representing a critical security risk that undermines the integrity of educational platforms. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the quiz question handling mechanism, which fails to properly validate user-supplied data before processing it as part of the quiz functionality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a code execution flaw that occurs when Moodle processes quiz questions containing maliciously crafted data. Attackers can leverage this weakness by creating or modifying quiz questions with specially constructed payloads that bypass normal validation checks. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-94, which describes improper control of generation of code, and falls under the broader category of code injection vulnerabilities. The flaw essentially allows an authenticated user to inject arbitrary code that gets executed within the context of the web server, potentially enabling full system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for educational institutions relying on Moodle platforms, as it provides attackers with a path to execute arbitrary commands on the server hosting the learning management system. This could lead to complete system compromise, data theft, unauthorized access to student information, and potential disruption of educational services. The vulnerability affects the core quiz functionality that is fundamental to most Moodle deployments, making it particularly dangerous as it could be exploited during normal academic activities when users are actively creating or taking quizzes. The authenticated nature of the exploit means that attackers need only obtain valid user credentials to leverage this vulnerability, which is often achievable through various social engineering or credential compromise techniques.
Organizations using affected Moodle versions should immediately apply the security patches released by Moodle developers to address this vulnerability. The remediation process involves upgrading to patched versions of Moodle, specifically versions 2.3.12, 2.4.11, 2.5.7, 2.6.4, and 2.7.1 or later. System administrators should also implement additional security controls including monitoring for unusual quiz creation activities, restricting user permissions where possible, and ensuring that only trusted users have the ability to create or modify quiz questions. From an att&ck framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving command execution and privilege escalation, specifically leveraging the T1059.001 sub-technique for command and script injection. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and input validation measures to detect and prevent similar injection attacks targeting other components of their educational technology infrastructure.