CVE-2014-3545: Moodle/moodle Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-3m99-h3hp-w9j7
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CWE-94
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2014-3545 is a MODERATE remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')) affecting Moodle/moodle libraries in the Packagist ecosystem. The issue involves moodle remote code execution via quiz questions. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.7.1, 2.6.4, 2.5.7, 2.4.11.

CVE-2014-3545 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2014-3545
GHSA Identifier GHSA-3m99-h3hp-w9j7
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
Affected Product Moodle/moodle
Package Ecosystem Packagist
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2014-3545

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Moodle/moodle dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

moodle/moodle fixed: 2.7.1 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 2.7.1
moodle/moodle fixed: 2.6.4 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 2.6.4
moodle/moodle fixed: 2.5.7 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 2.5.7
moodle/moodle fixed: 2.4.11 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 2.4.11
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

inspect dependencies for moodle/moodle

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2014-3545, inspect your project dependencies for Moodle/moodle:

inspect dependencies for moodle/moodle

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Moodle/moodle in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.7.1), your application is affected.

Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection'), where the product constructs all or part of a code segment using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the syntax or behavior of the intended code segment. In Moodle/moodle, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

Moodle through 2.3.11, 2.4.x before 2.4.11, 2.5.x before 2.5.7, 2.6.x before 2.6.4, and 2.7.x before 2.7.1 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code via a calculated question in a quiz.

CVE-2014-3545 Affected Moodle/moodle Versions

4 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.7.12.6.42.5.72.4.11
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 2.7.0
< 2.7.1
All 1 versions
2.7.0
2.7.1
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 2.6.0
< 2.6.4
2.6.4
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 2.5.0
< 2.5.7
2.5.7
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 2.4.0
< 2.4.11
2.4.11

References

NVD — CVE-2014-3545 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-3545
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/155bc7547227dc2047cfc8630cbfe121888b359b
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/29005a5418894b76e62e44bbc2c9e4ddee8f5ce6
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/44f726a7b1d351b39bb2a6a30c1b30027fabd000
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/539a25ff03fae377758d62caefcc71a2418e9a84
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/5c6c172033e3fb4afce862f8b32b459f5c35ad19
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/66de66fe6a8ce8f491562edad0a14f26d4808cb4
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/770d3ce42669067eca2bcee22d142ed7fec08550
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/82b3260eab2db58dfa9510645fd2c60ee0ce142e
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/88ec9f308da6a4bc7a735458cdf72648357d501d
Moodle/moodle Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/moodle/moodle
Moodle/moodle Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/1474f74687dda57c7d011b92d16f25b9870d2799/question/type/calculated/question.php#L426
moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.p... WEB
https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=264266
git.moodle.org/gw WEB
http://git.moodle.org/gw?p=moodle.git&a=search&h=HEAD&st=commit&s=MDL-46148
Moodle/moodle Security Information SECURITY
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/07/21/1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2014-3545?
CVE-2014-3545 is a security vulnerability in Moodle/moodle involving Moodle remote code execution via quiz questions under CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection').
Which Moodle/moodle versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.7.1, 2.6.4, 2.5.7, 2.4.11 across affected packages: moodle/moodle.
What version fixes CVE-2014-3545?
Upgrading to 2.7.1, 2.6.4, 2.5.7, 2.4.11 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is moodle/moodle affected?
Yes, moodle/moodle is affected in releases prior to 2.7.1, 2.6.4, 2.5.7, 2.4.11. Upgrade your dependency to 2.7.1, 2.6.4, 2.5.7, 2.4.11 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2014-3545?
CVE-2014-3545 is classified under CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection') (The product constructs all or part of a code segment using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the syntax or behavior of the intended code segment.).
How can I check Packagist dependencies for CVE-2014-3545?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for moodle/moodle'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
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  "id" : "GHSA-3m99-h3hp-w9j7",
  "modified" : "2023-08-15T22:30:28Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-13T01:12:40Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2014-3545" ],
  "summary" : "Moodle remote code execution via quiz questions",
  "details" : "Moodle through 2.3.11, 2.4.x before 2.4.11, 2.5.x before 2.5.7, 2.6.x before 2.6.4, and 2.7.x before 2.7.1 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code via a calculated question in a quiz.",
  "severity" : [ ],
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  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
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  }, {
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    "url" : "https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/155bc7547227dc2047cfc8630cbfe121888b359b"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/29005a5418894b76e62e44bbc2c9e4ddee8f5ce6"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/44f726a7b1d351b39bb2a6a30c1b30027fabd000"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/539a25ff03fae377758d62caefcc71a2418e9a84"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/5c6c172033e3fb4afce862f8b32b459f5c35ad19"
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    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/66de66fe6a8ce8f491562edad0a14f26d4808cb4"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/770d3ce42669067eca2bcee22d142ed7fec08550"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/82b3260eab2db58dfa9510645fd2c60ee0ce142e"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/88ec9f308da6a4bc7a735458cdf72648357d501d"
  }, {
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    "url" : "https://github.com/moodle/moodle"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/moodle/moodle/blob/1474f74687dda57c7d011b92d16f25b9870d2799/question/type/calculated/question.php#L426"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=264266"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://git.moodle.org/gw?p=moodle.git&a=search&h=HEAD&st=commit&s=MDL-46148"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/07/21/1"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-94" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-08-15T22:30:28Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2014-07-29T11:10:00Z"
  }
}