CVE-2014-7832 in Moodle
Summary
by MITRE
mod/lti/launch.php in the LTI 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 performs access control at the course level rather than at the activity level, which allows remote authenticated users to bypass the mod/lti:view capability requirement by viewing an activity instance.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/04/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7832 affects the Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) module within Moodle, a widely used open-source learning management system. This security flaw exists in Moodle versions 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, representing a critical access control bypass issue that undermines the platform's security model. The vulnerability stems from improper capability enforcement mechanisms within the LTI module's launch.php script, which fails to implement proper activity-level access controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a fundamental flaw in the capability checking system where the LTI module performs access control at the course level instead of the individual activity level. This design decision creates a security gap that allows authenticated users to bypass the mod/lti:view capability requirement through a simple viewing operation. The flaw specifically targets the mod/lti/view capability, which should normally restrict access to LTI activity instances based on individual user permissions. When access control is performed at the course level rather than the activity level, users who have legitimate access to a course can potentially view LTI activity instances even when they lack the specific capability required for that particular activity.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables remote authenticated users to gain unauthorized access to LTI activity instances that they should not be permitted to view. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as it allows attackers to potentially access educational content, learning tools, and resources that are intended for specific user groups or activities. This could result in data exposure, unauthorized access to learning materials, and potential disruption of the educational environment. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core LTI functionality that enables integration with external learning tools and services, potentially allowing attackers to exploit the access to gain further privileges or information within the integrated systems.
The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-284, which describes improper access control, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1210 for exploitation of remote services. Organizations using affected Moodle versions face significant risk as this flaw can be exploited by any authenticated user within the system, potentially including students, instructors, or other legitimate users who may not have explicit permissions for specific LTI activities. The remediation strategy requires immediate patching of affected Moodle installations to versions that implement proper activity-level access control for LTI modules. Additionally, administrators should review and enforce proper capability assignments, implement network segmentation, and monitor access logs for suspicious activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper privilege separation and capability enforcement in educational platforms where multiple user roles and access levels must be maintained to ensure appropriate content delivery and security isolation.