CVE-2014-7838 in Moodle
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities in the Forum 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 allow remote attackers to hijack the authentication of arbitrary users for requests that set a tracking preference within (1) mod/forum/deprecatedlib.php, (2) mod/forum/forum.js, (3) mod/forum/index.php, or (4) mod/forum/lib.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/04/2022
The CVE-2014-7838 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw affecting Moodle's Forum module across multiple versions including 2.4.11, 2.5.x through 2.5.8, 2.6.x through 2.6.5, and 2.7.x through 2.7.2. This vulnerability resides within the core forum functionality that handles user tracking preferences, making it particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to manipulate user sessions without their knowledge. The flaw manifests in four specific files: mod/forum/deprecatedlib.php, mod/forum/forum.js, mod/forum/index.php, and mod/forum/lib.php, each representing different attack vectors within the forum module's architecture. The vulnerability stems from the absence of proper CSRF protection mechanisms in these components, which are responsible for processing user requests related to forum tracking preferences.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a malicious actor crafts a crafted request that appears to originate from a legitimate user session. The attacker can leverage this flaw to modify tracking preferences for arbitrary users within the Moodle environment, potentially leading to unauthorized access to forum content, manipulation of user notifications, or even privilege escalation within the forum module. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple preference changes as it provides a foothold for more sophisticated attacks that could compromise user accounts and session integrity. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments or links.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-7838 is substantial for educational institutions relying on Moodle platforms, as it enables attackers to hijack user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive forum discussions, user-generated content, and personal information. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple versions indicates a fundamental flaw in the CSRF protection implementation that was not adequately addressed in the affected releases. Organizations using Moodle should note that this vulnerability affects not just individual user accounts but also the overall integrity of forum-based communication systems within their learning management environments. The attack vectors present in the four mentioned files suggest that the vulnerability is not isolated to a single component but represents a systemic issue within the forum module's architecture. Security teams should prioritize immediate remediation efforts as the vulnerability allows for authenticated attacks that can be executed without requiring elevated privileges or advanced technical skills from the attacker.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include applying the official security patches released by Moodle for the affected versions, implementing proper CSRF token validation mechanisms, and conducting comprehensive security audits of forum-related components. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls, session management improvements, and regular security assessments to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other parts of their Moodle installations. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing robust security practices throughout the entire application lifecycle. Regular security training for administrators and developers regarding CSRF prevention techniques should be part of the institutional security posture to prevent future occurrences of similar vulnerabilities in Moodle or other web applications.