CVE-2024-47192 in Mahara
Summary
by MITRE • 08/27/2025
An issue was discovered in Mahara 23.04.8 and 24.04.4. The use of a malicious export download URL can allow an attacker to download files that they do not have permission to download.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/29/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-47192 affects Mahara versions 23.04.8 and 24.04.4, representing a critical access control flaw that undermines the platform's file security mechanisms. This issue stems from insufficient authorization checks within the export download functionality, creating a path for unauthorized file access that directly violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and access control. The vulnerability manifests when malicious actors craft specific export download URLs that bypass normal permission controls, allowing them to retrieve files they should not be able to access based on their user roles or permissions.
The technical implementation of this flaw resides in the export module's handling of download requests where the system fails to properly validate user permissions before serving requested files. This weakness creates a direct path for privilege escalation through unauthorized file access, as the system does not adequately verify whether the requesting user has proper authorization to access the specific file or resource being requested. The flaw operates at the application level where proper authentication and authorization checks are not enforced during the export download process, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring elevated privileges or complex attack vectors.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability exposes organizations using Mahara to significant data breach risks, as attackers can potentially access sensitive academic records, personal information, or proprietary content that should remain restricted to authorized users only. The implications extend beyond simple unauthorized access to include potential compliance violations, as this flaw could compromise data protection regulations such as gdpr or other privacy frameworks that mandate proper access controls for personal and sensitive information. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality aspects of the mahara platform's security model, potentially allowing attackers to exfiltrate confidential educational data or manipulate content access controls.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches from mahara, reviewing and strengthening export download permission controls, and implementing additional monitoring of export functionality usage. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and maps to attack techniques in the mitre att&ck framework under privilege escalation and credential access categories. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of export and download functionalities, implement proper input validation for URL parameters, and establish logging mechanisms to detect suspicious download activities. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network-level controls and access restrictions to limit exposure while permanent fixes are deployed, ensuring that all export operations properly validate user permissions before serving any content.