CVE-2012-2356: Moodle/moodle Authentication Bypass Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-3rqj-jchw-9cc7
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CWE-288
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2012-2356 is a MODERATE authentication bypass vulnerability (CWE-288: Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel) affecting Moodle/moodle libraries in the Packagist ecosystem. The issue involves moodle authentication bypass in question-bank. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.1.6, 2.2.3.

CVE-2012-2356 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2012-2356
GHSA Identifier GHSA-3rqj-jchw-9cc7
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-288: Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel
Affected Product Moodle/moodle
Package Ecosystem Packagist
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2012-2356

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: 2.1.6 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 2.1.6
moodle/moodle fixed: 2.2.3 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 2.2.3
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-2012-2356, 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 2.1.6), 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-288: Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel, where the product requires authentication, but the product has an alternate path or channel that does not require authentication. 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

The question-bank functionality in Moodle 2.1.x before 2.1.6 and 2.2.x before 2.2.3 allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended capability requirements and save questions via a save_question action.

CVE-2012-2356 Affected Moodle/moodle Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.1.62.2.3
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 2.1
< 2.1.6
2.1.6
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 2.2
< 2.2.3
2.2.3

References

NVD — CVE-2012-2356 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-2356
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/0f83dd10a1d013e77906c7be4560126bb14c6b5c
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/29e247e44e983f230f248192ffac8e7b7abe37fd
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/51c5e6057c67687f5d872f8a228cfea275abf576
Moodle/moodle Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/moodle/moodle
git.moodle.org/gw WEB
http://git.moodle.org/gw?p=moodle.git&a=search&h=HEAD&st=commit&s=MDL-32239
Moodle/moodle Security Information SECURITY
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2012/05/23/2

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2012-2356?
CVE-2012-2356 is a security vulnerability in Moodle/moodle involving Moodle Authentication Bypass in Question-Bank under CWE-288: Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel.
Which Moodle/moodle versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.1.6, 2.2.3 across affected packages: moodle/moodle.
What version fixes CVE-2012-2356?
Upgrading to 2.1.6, 2.2.3 (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 2.1.6, 2.2.3. Upgrade your dependency to 2.1.6, 2.2.3 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2012-2356?
CVE-2012-2356 is classified under CWE-288: Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel (The product requires authentication, but the product has an alternate path or channel that does not require authentication.).
How can I check Packagist dependencies for CVE-2012-2356?
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 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-3rqj-jchw-9cc7",
  "modified" : "2024-01-12T16:18:18Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-13T01:13:06Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2012-2356" ],
  "summary" : "Moodle Authentication Bypass in Question-Bank",
  "details" : "The question-bank functionality in Moodle 2.1.x before 2.1.6 and 2.2.x before 2.2.3 allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended capability requirements and save questions via a save_question action.",
  "severity" : [ ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Packagist",
      "name" : "moodle/moodle"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.1"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.1.6"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Packagist",
      "name" : "moodle/moodle"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.2"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.2.3"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-2356"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/0f83dd10a1d013e77906c7be4560126bb14c6b5c"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/29e247e44e983f230f248192ffac8e7b7abe37fd"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/51c5e6057c67687f5d872f8a228cfea275abf576"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/moodle/moodle"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://git.moodle.org/gw?p=moodle.git&a=search&h=HEAD&st=commit&s=MDL-32239"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2012/05/23/2"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-288" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2024-01-12T16:18:18Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2012-07-21T03:38:00Z"
  }
}