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GHSA-c7jj-vfmr-j9mj BIT-moodle-2021-21809 CVE-2021-21809

Moodle command execution vulnerability exists in the default legacy spellchecker plugin

Critical Packagist
Severity
9.1 / 10
Critical · CVSS 3.1
Exploit chance (EPSS)
24.17%
Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days. Higher than 97.85% of scored vulnerabilities.
Known exploited
No
Not in CISA's catalog
Weakness
CWE-732 Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource
Fix
None yet
No fixed version published

Description

A command execution vulnerability exists in the default legacy spellchecker plugin in a few Moodle multiple specific versions. A specially crafted series of HTTP requests can lead to command execution. An attacker must have administrator privileges to exploit this vulnerabilities.

Affected versions

Packagist

PackageVulnerableFixed in
moodle/moodle 1 listed versions No fix yet
moodle/moodle 1 listed versions No fix yet
moodle/moodle 1 listed versions No fix yet

How to fix

No fixed version has been published yet. Until one is, remove or replace the package, or turn off or isolate the affected feature. This page updates when a fix ships.

Severity breakdown

CVSS 3.1 9.1

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
High
User interaction
None
Scope
Changed
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Weakness

CWE-732: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource

The product specifies permissions for a security-critical resource in a way that allows that resource to be read or modified by unintended actors.

How to prevent it
  • Implementation: When using a critical resource such as a configuration file, check to see if the resource has insecure permissions (such as being modifiable by any regular user) [REF-62], and generate an error or even exit the software if there is a possibility that the resource could have been modified by an unauthorized party.
  • Architecture and Design: Divide the software into anonymous, normal, privileged, and administrative areas. Reduce the attack surface by carefully defining distinct user groups, privileges, and/or roles. Map these against data, functionality, and the related resources. Then set the permissions accordingly. This will allow you to maintain more fine-grained control over your resources. [REF-207]
  • Architecture and Design, Operation: Run the code in a "jail" or similar sandbox environment that enforces strict boundaries between the process and the operating system. This may effectively restrict which files can be accessed in a particular directory or which commands can be executed by the software. OS-level examples include the Unix chroot jail, AppArmor, and SELinux. In general, managed code may provide some protection. For example, java.io.FilePermission in the Java SecurityManager allows the software to specify restrictions on file operations. This may not be a feasible solution, and it only limits the impact to the operating system; the rest of the application may still be subject to compromise. Be careful to avoid CWE-243 and other weaknesses related to jails.
  • Implementation, Installation: During program startup, explicitly set the default permissions or umask to the most restrictive setting possible. Also set the appropriate permissions during program installation. This will prevent you from inheriting insecure permissions from any user who installs or runs the program.
  • System Configuration: For all configuration files, executables, and libraries, make sure that they are only readable and writable by the software's administrator.
  • Documentation: Do not suggest insecure configuration changes in documentation, especially if those configurations can extend to resources and other programs that are outside the scope of the application.
  • Installation: Do not assume that a system administrator will manually change the configuration to the settings that are recommended in the software's manual.
  • Operation, System Configuration: Ensure that the software runs properly under the United States Government Configuration Baseline (USGCB) [REF-199] or an equivalent hardening configuration guide, which many organizations use to limit the attack surface and potential risk of deployed software.
  • Implementation, System Configuration, Operation: When storing data in the cloud (e.g., S3 buckets, Azure blobs, Google Cloud Storage, etc.), use the provider's controls to disable public access.

References

Timeline

  1. Published
  2. Last updated by the source
  3. Latest EPSS score
AdvisorySeverityWhy it's related
GHSA-cg8j-5cr2-568q
Moodle TeX formula editor is vulnerable to DoS through lack of execution time limits
Medium Also affects moodle/moodle
GHSA-ggxq-2mg9-8966
Moodle has a Remote Code Execution risk via file restore
High Also affects moodle/moodle
GHSA-8jrv-wx83-w3xj
Moodle Inserts Sensitive Information Into Sent Data
Medium Also affects moodle/moodle
GHSA-hcm6-q6pc-xfhm
Moodle has an authorization logic flaw
Critical Also affects moodle/moodle
GHSA-vwhw-vp9v-q9c9
Moodle vulnerable to Cross-site Scripting
Medium Also affects moodle/moodle
GHSA-5cx4-w4fh-fr57
Moodle Affected by Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts
High Also affects moodle/moodle
GHSA-qv78-6gpp-hm68
Moodle Open Redirect vulnerability
Medium Also affects moodle/moodle
GHSA-qfh6-h7j6-fvjv
Moodle formula injection vulnerability
High Also affects moodle/moodle
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