CVE-2019-14882 in Moodle
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability was found in Moodle 3.7 to 3.7.3, 3.6 to 3.6.7, 3.5 to 3.5.9 and earlier where an open redirect existed in the Lesson edit page.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/11/2025
This vulnerability exists within the Moodle learning management system and represents a classic open redirect flaw that could be exploited by attackers to redirect users to malicious websites. The issue was identified in multiple versions of Moodle including 3.7.0 through 3.7.3, 3.6.0 through 3.6.7, and 3.5.0 through 3.5.9, making it a widespread concern across several major release branches. The vulnerability specifically affects the Lesson edit page functionality, which is a core component of Moodle's course content management system.
The technical flaw manifests as an improper input validation mechanism that fails to adequately sanitize or validate redirect parameters passed to the Lesson edit page. When users navigate to certain lesson-related URLs, the application accepts redirect parameters without sufficient validation, allowing attackers to craft malicious URLs that would redirect users to arbitrary external domains. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-601 Open Redirect vulnerability category, which is classified under the broader CWE-1000 family of software weaknesses. The flaw essentially allows an attacker to create a deceptive link that appears to be from a legitimate Moodle instance while actually redirecting to a malicious site, potentially enabling phishing attacks or credential harvesting.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple redirection, as it creates opportunities for social engineering attacks that could compromise user credentials and sensitive educational data. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to craft convincing phishing campaigns where users are redirected from legitimate Moodle pages to fake login portals designed to capture authentication information. This poses significant risks to educational institutions as it could lead to unauthorized access to student records, course materials, and administrative functions. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the context of a trusted learning management system, making it more likely for users to follow redirects without suspicion. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability could be categorized under T1566 Phishing and T1071.1 Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols, as it exploits web application vulnerabilities to facilitate malicious redirection and user deception.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of affected Moodle installations to the latest available versions that contain the fix. Organizations should also implement network-level controls such as URL filtering and content inspection to detect and block suspicious redirect patterns. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing security awareness training for users to recognize potential phishing attempts and suspicious redirects. The vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation and proper parameter sanitization in web applications, particularly in educational platforms where user trust is paramount. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other components of the Moodle system or related applications. Organizations should also establish robust incident response procedures to quickly address any exploitation attempts that may occur after patching, as the vulnerability could be actively exploited in the wild.