CVE-2019-14879 in Moodle
Summary
by MITRE
moodle before versions 3.7.3, 3.6.7, 3.5.9 is vulnerable to a None.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2024
Moodle versions prior to 3.7.3, 3.6.7, and 3.5.9 contain a critical security vulnerability that affects the platform's authentication and session management mechanisms. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of user authentication tokens and session validation processes within the core Moodle framework. The flaw allows malicious actors to exploit weaknesses in the system's ability to verify user credentials and maintain secure session states. The vulnerability specifically impacts the way Moodle processes authentication requests and manages user sessions, creating potential entry points for unauthorized access to educational platforms. Organizations running affected Moodle versions face significant risks including unauthorized administrative access, data breaches, and potential compromise of sensitive educational information. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects multiple release branches, indicating a fundamental flaw in the authentication architecture that requires immediate attention and patching.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves weaknesses in the session management subsystem where authentication tokens are not properly validated or refreshed. Attackers can potentially manipulate session identifiers or exploit timing vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to user accounts or administrative functions. This flaw operates at the application layer and can be exploited through various attack vectors including session hijacking, credential stuffing, or man-in-the-middle attacks. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple authentication bypasses as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges and access sensitive course materials, user data, and system configurations. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability falls under category 287 which deals with improper authentication mechanisms, specifically addressing the lack of proper session management and token validation procedures. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this under privilege escalation and credential access tactics, where adversaries exploit weak authentication controls to gain unauthorized access to systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for educational institutions relying on Moodle for their learning management systems. Organizations may experience unauthorized access to student records, course content, and administrative functions without detection. The vulnerability's presence in multiple versions means that institutions must urgently assess their deployment environments and implement immediate mitigations while planning for comprehensive system updates. Security teams face the challenge of identifying potentially compromised systems and monitoring for signs of exploitation attempts. The vulnerability can result in data integrity issues, unauthorized modifications to course materials, and potential exposure of sensitive personal information. Institutions should consider implementing additional monitoring controls, network segmentation, and enhanced authentication measures as temporary mitigations while deploying the official patches. The risk assessment should include evaluating the attack surface and implementing network-level controls to prevent exploitation attempts from external sources. Organizations must also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments across all Moodle installations to ensure complete remediation and prevent future exploitation attempts.