CVE-2015-2270 in Moodle
Summary
by MITRE
lib/moodlelib.php in Moodle through 2.5.9, 2.6.x before 2.6.9, 2.7.x before 2.7.6, and 2.8.x before 2.8.4, when the theme uses the blocks-regions feature, establishes the course state at an incorrect point in the login-validation process, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive course information via unspecified vectors.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/19/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-2270 resides within Moodle's core library file moodlelib.php and affects multiple versions of the popular learning management system. This issue specifically impacts installations where themes utilize the blocks-regions feature, creating a critical security gap in the authentication and authorization mechanisms. The flaw manifests when the system establishes course state at an inappropriate stage within the login-validation process, fundamentally compromising the security model that should protect sensitive educational data. The vulnerability's impact extends across several major release branches including 2.5.9, 2.6.x versions prior to 2.6.9, 2.7.x versions before 2.7.6, and 2.8.x versions before 2.8.4, indicating a widespread exposure across the Moodle ecosystem.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper session management and state establishment during the authentication flow. When users attempt to access course materials, the system incorrectly initializes course context information before completing the full authentication validation process. This premature state establishment creates a window of opportunity for unauthenticated attackers to exploit the system's security boundaries. The blocks-regions feature, which allows for flexible theme layouts and block placement, becomes a vector for information disclosure because it relies on course state data that should remain protected until proper authentication occurs. This flaw represents a classic case of insufficient access control enforcement, where the system fails to properly validate user credentials before granting access to course-specific information. The vulnerability operates under CWE-284 which addresses improper access control, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1046 for network service scanning.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for educational institutions relying on Moodle platforms, as it enables remote attackers to obtain sensitive course information without proper authentication. This disclosure could include course outlines, assignment details, student enrollment data, and other confidential academic materials that should remain protected. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or local network privileges to exploit it, making it particularly dangerous in internet-facing environments. Organizations using affected Moodle versions face significant risks of data breaches, privacy violations, and potential compliance issues with educational data protection regulations. The information disclosure could facilitate further attacks such as credential harvesting, social engineering, or targeted exploitation of specific course content. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability could be leveraged to map course structures and identify potential targets for more sophisticated attacks, making it a valuable reconnaissance tool for threat actors.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of Moodle as specified in the affected release timeline, applying the official security patches released by Moodle developers, and implementing additional network-level controls to limit access to authentication endpoints. System administrators should review their theme configurations to ensure proper implementation of security controls and consider implementing additional authentication layers such as two-factor authentication. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper session management and access control implementation in web applications, particularly in educational platforms where sensitive student and academic data is routinely handled. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in custom themes or third-party plugins that might expose similar security gaps in the authentication process.