CVE-2014-7830 in Moodle
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in mod/feedback/mapcourse.php in the Feedback module in Moodle through 2.4.11, 2.5.x before 2.5.9, 2.6.x before 2.6.6, and 2.7.x before 2.7.3 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML by leveraging the mod/feedback:mapcourse capability to provide a searchcourse parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/04/2022
The CVE-2014-7830 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Moodle's Feedback module that affects multiple versions of the popular learning management system. This vulnerability specifically resides in the mod/feedback/mapcourse.php file and demonstrates how insufficient input validation can create persistent security risks for educational institutions relying on Moodle for their digital learning environments. The flaw enables authenticated attackers with specific capabilities to inject malicious scripts into the application's response, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of the searchcourse parameter within the feedback module's course mapping functionality. When authenticated users with the mod/feedback:mapcourse capability submit a searchcourse parameter, the application fails to properly validate or escape the input before incorporating it into the HTTP response. This oversight creates an XSS vector that can be exploited by malicious actors to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires authentication, making it less immediately exploitable than client-side vulnerabilities but still highly dangerous in targeted attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user information, and potentially escalate privileges within the Moodle environment. Attackers could craft malicious search parameters that, when processed by the vulnerable application, would execute scripts that capture user credentials or redirect them to phishing sites. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Moodle versions, including 2.4.11 and earlier, 2.5.x versions before 2.5.9, 2.6.x versions before 2.6.6, and 2.7.x versions before 2.7.3, indicating a prolonged period of exposure across multiple release lines. Organizations using these versions face significant risk of unauthorized access to their learning management systems, potentially compromising student data and institutional security.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrates how improper input handling can lead to persistent security weaknesses. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for script injection techniques and T1566 for credential access through social engineering. The exploitation process requires attackers to first authenticate to the Moodle system with appropriate privileges, then leverage the searchcourse parameter to inject malicious content. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches, implementing input validation controls, and conducting security assessments of their Moodle installations to identify similar vulnerabilities in other modules. The incident highlights the critical importance of proper input sanitization and the need for comprehensive security testing of web applications, particularly those handling sensitive educational data.