CVE-2023-47799 in Mahara
Summary
by MITRE • 08/25/2025
Mahara before 22.10.4 and 23.x before 23.04.4 allows information disclosure if the experimental HTML bulk export is used via the administration interface or via the CLI, and the resulting export files are given to the account holders. They may contain images of other account holders because the cache is not cleared after the files of one account are exported.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/05/2025
This vulnerability exists in the Mahara learning management system where improper cache management during HTML bulk export operations creates a critical information disclosure risk. The flaw affects versions prior to 22.10.4 and 23.04.4, specifically when the experimental HTML bulk export feature is utilized through either the administrative web interface or command line interface. The root cause stems from inadequate cache clearing mechanisms that persist data across different user sessions during the export process. When administrators or users perform bulk exports for multiple account holders, the system fails to properly isolate the cached content for each individual account, resulting in cross-contamination of data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of insufficient access control and resource isolation. When one user's export files are generated, the system cache retains references to images and other media content that may belong to different user accounts. This cache persistence occurs because the application does not explicitly clear or reset the cache state between individual account export operations, creating a scenario where sensitive content from one user can inadvertently appear in another user's exported materials. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the data presentation layer, where user privacy and data separation principles are fundamental security requirements.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data leakage to potentially compromise user privacy and organizational security. Account holders may unknowingly receive exported files containing images, documents, or other media that belong to other users within the same system. This information disclosure can lead to unauthorized access to personal data, confidential communications, or proprietary content that should remain isolated to individual user accounts. The risk is amplified when considering that these export operations are typically performed by system administrators or users with elevated privileges, who may have broader access to system resources and user data than regular users would normally possess.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200 (Information Disclosure) and represents a failure in proper data isolation mechanisms. The issue also maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.004 (Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts) where compromised or improperly isolated account data could be accessed by unauthorized parties. The vulnerability demonstrates poor separation of concerns in the application architecture, where cache management and user session handling are not properly decoupled during bulk operations. Organizations using affected versions of Mahara should immediately implement mitigations including updating to patched versions, implementing additional access controls for bulk export functionality, and conducting thorough audits of exported data to ensure no cross-contamination has occurred. The security implications highlight the critical importance of proper resource management and cache isolation in multi-user systems where data privacy and user separation are paramount requirements.