Vulnerabilities > CVE-2016-8642 - Improper Access Control vulnerability in Moodle

047910
CVSS 5.3 - MEDIUM
Attack vector
NETWORK
Attack complexity
LOW
Privileges required
NONE
Confidentiality impact
LOW
Integrity impact
NONE
Availability impact
NONE
network
low complexity
moodle
CWE-284
nessus
NVD
Published: 2017-01-20
Updated: 2024-11-21

Summary

In Moodle 2.x and 3.x, the question engine allows access to files that should not be available.

Vulnerable Configurations

Part Description Count
Application
Moodle
225

Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE)

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

  • Embedding Scripts within Scripts
    An attack of this type exploits a programs' vulnerabilities that are brought on by allowing remote hosts to execute scripts. The attacker leverages this capability to execute scripts to execute his/her own script by embedding it within other scripts that the target software is likely to execute. The attacker must have the ability to inject script into script that is likely to be executed. If this is done, then the attacker can potentially launch a variety of probes and attacks against the web server's local environment, in many cases the so-called DMZ, back end resources the web server can communicate with, and other hosts. With the proliferation of intermediaries, such as Web App Firewalls, network devices, and even printers having JVMs and Web servers, there are many locales where an attacker can inject malicious scripts. Since this attack pattern defines scripts within scripts, there are likely privileges to execute said attack on the host. Of course, these attacks are not solely limited to the server side, client side scripts like Ajax and client side JavaScript can contain malicious scripts as well. In general all that is required is for there to be sufficient privileges to execute a script, but not protected against writing.
  • Signature Spoofing by Key Theft
    An attacker obtains an authoritative or reputable signer's private signature key by theft and then uses this key to forge signatures from the original signer to mislead a victim into performing actions that benefit the attacker.

Nessus

  • NASL familyFedora Local Security Checks
    NASL idFEDORA_2017-AE7A707032.NASL
    description3.1.4 Note that Tenable Network Security has extracted the preceding description block directly from the Fedora update system website. Tenable has attempted to automatically clean and format it as much as possible without introducing additional issues.
    last seen2020-06-05
    modified2017-02-07
    plugin id97034
    published2017-02-07
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2017-2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/97034
    titleFedora 25 : moodle (2017-ae7a707032)
    code
    #%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80502
#
# (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
#
# The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were  
# extracted from Fedora Security Advisory FEDORA-2017-ae7a707032.
#

include("compat.inc");

if (description)
{
  script_id(97034);
  script_version("3.3");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2020/06/04");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2016-8642");
  script_xref(name:"FEDORA", value:"2017-ae7a707032");

  script_name(english:"Fedora 25 : moodle (2017-ae7a707032)");
  script_summary(english:"Checks rpm output for the updated package.");

  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"synopsis", 
    value:"The remote Fedora host is missing a security update."
  );
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"description", 
    value:
"3.1.4

Note that Tenable Network Security has extracted the preceding
description block directly from the Fedora update system website.
Tenable has attempted to automatically clean and format it as much as
possible without introducing additional issues."
  );
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"see_also",
    value:"https://bodhi.fedoraproject.org/updates/FEDORA-2017-ae7a707032"
  );
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"solution", 
    value:"Update the affected moodle package."
  );
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:fedoraproject:fedora:moodle");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:fedoraproject:fedora:25");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2017/01/20");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2017/02/06");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2017/02/07");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"generated_plugin", value:"current");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2017-2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");
  script_family(english:"Fedora Local Security Checks");

  script_dependencies("ssh_get_info.nasl");
  script_require_keys("Host/local_checks_enabled", "Host/RedHat/release", "Host/RedHat/rpm-list");

  exit(0);
}


include("audit.inc");
include("global_settings.inc");
include("rpm.inc");


if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
release = get_kb_item("Host/RedHat/release");
if (isnull(release) || "Fedora" >!< release) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Fedora");
os_ver = pregmatch(pattern: "Fedora.*release ([0-9]+)", string:release);
if (isnull(os_ver)) audit(AUDIT_UNKNOWN_APP_VER, "Fedora");
os_ver = os_ver[1];
if (! preg(pattern:"^25([^0-9]|$)", string:os_ver)) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Fedora 25", "Fedora " + os_ver);

if (!get_kb_item("Host/RedHat/rpm-list")) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);


cpu = get_kb_item("Host/cpu");
if (isnull(cpu)) audit(AUDIT_UNKNOWN_ARCH);
if ("x86_64" >!< cpu && cpu !~ "^i[3-6]86$") audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_IMPLEMENTED, "Fedora", cpu);


flag = 0;
if (rpm_check(release:"FC25", reference:"moodle-3.1.4-1.fc25")) flag++;


if (flag)
{
  security_report_v4(
    port       : 0,
    severity   : SECURITY_WARNING,
    extra      : rpm_report_get()
  );
  exit(0);
}
else
{
  tested = pkg_tests_get();
  if (tested) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_NOT_AFFECTED, tested);
  else audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_NOT_INSTALLED, "moodle");
}
  • NASL familyFedora Local Security Checks
    NASL idFEDORA_2017-6681F94E10.NASL
    description3.1.4 Note that Tenable Network Security has extracted the preceding description block directly from the Fedora update system website. Tenable has attempted to automatically clean and format it as much as possible without introducing additional issues.
    last seen2020-06-05
    modified2017-02-02
    plugin id96936
    published2017-02-02
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2017-2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/96936
    titleFedora 24 : moodle (2017-6681f94e10)
    code
    #%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80502
#
# (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
#
# The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were  
# extracted from Fedora Security Advisory FEDORA-2017-6681f94e10.
#

include("compat.inc");

if (description)
{
  script_id(96936);
  script_version("3.3");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2020/06/04");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2016-8642");
  script_xref(name:"FEDORA", value:"2017-6681f94e10");

  script_name(english:"Fedora 24 : moodle (2017-6681f94e10)");
  script_summary(english:"Checks rpm output for the updated package.");

  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"synopsis", 
    value:"The remote Fedora host is missing a security update."
  );
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"description", 
    value:
"3.1.4

Note that Tenable Network Security has extracted the preceding
description block directly from the Fedora update system website.
Tenable has attempted to automatically clean and format it as much as
possible without introducing additional issues."
  );
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"see_also",
    value:"https://bodhi.fedoraproject.org/updates/FEDORA-2017-6681f94e10"
  );
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"solution", 
    value:"Update the affected moodle package."
  );
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:fedoraproject:fedora:moodle");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:fedoraproject:fedora:24");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2017/01/20");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2017/02/01");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2017/02/02");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"generated_plugin", value:"current");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2017-2020 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");
  script_family(english:"Fedora Local Security Checks");

  script_dependencies("ssh_get_info.nasl");
  script_require_keys("Host/local_checks_enabled", "Host/RedHat/release", "Host/RedHat/rpm-list");

  exit(0);
}


include("audit.inc");
include("global_settings.inc");
include("rpm.inc");


if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
release = get_kb_item("Host/RedHat/release");
if (isnull(release) || "Fedora" >!< release) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Fedora");
os_ver = pregmatch(pattern: "Fedora.*release ([0-9]+)", string:release);
if (isnull(os_ver)) audit(AUDIT_UNKNOWN_APP_VER, "Fedora");
os_ver = os_ver[1];
if (! preg(pattern:"^24([^0-9]|$)", string:os_ver)) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Fedora 24", "Fedora " + os_ver);

if (!get_kb_item("Host/RedHat/rpm-list")) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);


cpu = get_kb_item("Host/cpu");
if (isnull(cpu)) audit(AUDIT_UNKNOWN_ARCH);
if ("x86_64" >!< cpu && cpu !~ "^i[3-6]86$") audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_IMPLEMENTED, "Fedora", cpu);


flag = 0;
if (rpm_check(release:"FC24", reference:"moodle-3.1.4-1.fc24")) flag++;


if (flag)
{
  security_report_v4(
    port       : 0,
    severity   : SECURITY_WARNING,
    extra      : rpm_report_get()
  );
  exit(0);
}
else
{
  tested = pkg_tests_get();
  if (tested) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_NOT_AFFECTED, tested);
  else audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_NOT_INSTALLED, "moodle");
}
  • NASL familyFreeBSD Local Security Checks
    NASL idFREEBSD_PKG_F6565FBFAB9E11E6AE1B002590263BF5.NASL
    descriptionMarina Glancy reports : - MSA-16-0023: Question engine allows access to files that should not be available - MSA-16-0024: Non-admin site managers may accidentally edit admins via web services - MSA-16-0025: Capability to view course notes is checked in the wrong context - MSA-16-0026: When debugging is enabled, error exceptions returned from webservices could contain private data
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id94905
    published2016-11-16
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2016-2018 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/94905
    titleFreeBSD : moodle -- multiple vulnerabilities (f6565fbf-ab9e-11e6-ae1b-002590263bf5)
    code
    #
# (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
#
# The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were  
# extracted from the FreeBSD VuXML database :
#
# Copyright 2003-2018 Jacques Vidrine and contributors
#
# Redistribution and use in source (VuXML) and 'compiled' forms (SGML,
# HTML, PDF, PostScript, RTF and so forth) with or without modification,
# are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
# 1. Redistributions of source code (VuXML) must retain the above
#    copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following
#    disclaimer as the first lines of this file unmodified.
# 2. Redistributions in compiled form (transformed to other DTDs,
#    published online in any format, converted to PDF, PostScript,
#    RTF and other formats) must reproduce the above copyright
#    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer
#    in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
#    distribution.
# 
# THIS DOCUMENTATION IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
# AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
# THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
# PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR OR CONTRIBUTORS
# BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY,
# OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT
# OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR
# BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY,
# WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE
# OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS DOCUMENTATION,
# EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
#

include("compat.inc");

if (description)
{
  script_id(94905);
  script_version("2.4");
  script_cvs_date("Date: 2018/11/10 11:49:46");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2016-8642", "CVE-2016-8643", "CVE-2016-8644");

  script_name(english:"FreeBSD : moodle -- multiple vulnerabilities (f6565fbf-ab9e-11e6-ae1b-002590263bf5)");
  script_summary(english:"Checks for updated packages in pkg_info output");

  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"synopsis", 
    value:
"The remote FreeBSD host is missing one or more security-related
updates."
  );
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"description", 
    value:
"Marina Glancy reports :

- MSA-16-0023: Question engine allows access to files that should not
be available

- MSA-16-0024: Non-admin site managers may accidentally edit admins
via web services

- MSA-16-0025: Capability to view course notes is checked in the wrong
context

- MSA-16-0026: When debugging is enabled, error exceptions returned
from webservices could contain private data"
  );
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"see_also",
    value:"https://moodle.org/security/"
  );
  # https://vuxml.freebsd.org/freebsd/f6565fbf-ab9e-11e6-ae1b-002590263bf5.html
  script_set_attribute(
    attribute:"see_also",
    value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?fe831622"
  );
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:"Update the affected packages.");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:freebsd:freebsd:moodle29");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:freebsd:freebsd:moodle30");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:freebsd:freebsd:moodle31");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:freebsd:freebsd");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2016/11/14");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2016/11/16");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2016/11/16");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2016-2018 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");
  script_family(english:"FreeBSD Local Security Checks");

  script_dependencies("ssh_get_info.nasl");
  script_require_keys("Host/local_checks_enabled", "Host/FreeBSD/release", "Host/FreeBSD/pkg_info");

  exit(0);
}


include("audit.inc");
include("freebsd_package.inc");


if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
if (!get_kb_item("Host/FreeBSD/release")) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "FreeBSD");
if (!get_kb_item("Host/FreeBSD/pkg_info")) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);


flag = 0;

if (pkg_test(save_report:TRUE, pkg:"moodle29<2.9.9")) flag++;
if (pkg_test(save_report:TRUE, pkg:"moodle30<3.0.7")) flag++;
if (pkg_test(save_report:TRUE, pkg:"moodle31<3.1.3")) flag++;

if (flag)
{
  if (report_verbosity > 0) security_warning(port:0, extra:pkg_report_get());
  else security_warning(0);
  exit(0);
}
else audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, "affected");

References