CVE-2026-62107 in Masteriyo Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/11/2026
Unauthenticated PHP Object Injection in Masteriyo - LMS <= 3.4.0 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/11/2026
The vulnerability identified as an unauthenticated PHP object injection flaw within the Masteriyo Learning Management System, specifically affecting versions up to and including 3.4.0, represents a critical security deficiency that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or manipulate application state without valid credentials. This type of vulnerability stems from the improper deserialization of user-supplied data, where the application accepts input parameters such as cookies, POST variables, or URL arguments and passes them directly into PHP's unserialize function or similar mechanisms without sufficient validation or sanitization. In the context of a web-based learning platform like Masteriyo, which handles sensitive educational data, course structures, and student progress information, this flaw is particularly severe because it bypasses the authentication layer entirely, granting attackers immediate access to internal application objects.
From a technical perspective, PHP object injection exploits the way PHP manages object instances in memory. When an attacker provides a serialized string containing a crafted payload, they can instantiate arbitrary classes that are available within the application's environment or its dependencies. If these classes contain magic methods such as __wakeup(), __destruct(), or __toString(), which are automatically invoked during deserialization, the attacker can trigger side effects like file system operations, database queries, or remote code execution. This often relies on the presence of "gadget chains," which are sequences of existing application functions that can be chained together to achieve a malicious outcome without requiring new code injection. The lack of authentication for this vector means that any internet-facing instance of the vulnerable software is immediately exploitable by anyone with network access, significantly lowering the barrier to entry for attackers compared to vulnerabilities that require prior login privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement. An attacker can potentially gain full control over the web server hosting the Masteriyo installation, leading to a complete compromise of the underlying infrastructure. This could result in the exfiltration of personally identifiable information belonging to students and instructors, including names, email addresses, payment details if e-commerce features are enabled, and academic records. Furthermore, the compromised system can be used as a pivot point for lateral movement within an organization's network or deployed as part of a botnet for distributed denial-of-service attacks. The integrity of the educational content is also at risk, with attackers able to alter course materials, grades, or enrollment statuses, thereby undermining the trust and functionality of the learning platform.
This vulnerability aligns closely with Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) identifiers such as CWE-502, which describes Deserialization of Untrusted Data, and CWE-94, known as Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection'). In terms of offensive security frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK, this exploit technique maps to T1059.007, specifically the use of PHP for command execution or script interpretation, and potentially T1190 if it leads to remote code execution in an application layer. The unauthenticated nature of the attack also correlates with CWE-287, Improper Authentication, although the primary weakness lies in the input handling rather than a failure of credential verification per se.
Mitigation strategies must prioritize immediate remediation through software updates or configuration changes. Administrators should upgrade Masteriyo to version 3.4.1 or later where this vulnerability has been patched by implementing strict type checking and whitelisting allowed classes during deserialization processes. If an update is not immediately feasible, temporary mitigations include disabling the specific endpoints or parameters that trigger the object injection, although this may impact functionality. Additionally, deploying a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules tuned to detect serialized payload patterns can provide a layer of defense against exploitation attempts while permanent fixes are applied. Regular security audits and code reviews focusing on input validation and secure coding practices for PHP applications are essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future, ensuring that user-supplied data is never treated as executable code or trusted object structures without rigorous verification.