CVE-2018-14630: Moodle/moodle Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-c3pr-h96w-2jjg
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CVSS 8.8
CWE-94
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2018-14630 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.8) 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 xml import of ddwtos could lead to intentional remote code execution. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.5.2, 3.4.5, 3.3.8, 3.1.14.

CVE-2018-14630 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2018-14630
GHSA Identifier GHSA-c3pr-h96w-2jjg
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.8
CWE Classification CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
Affected Product Moodle/moodle
Package Ecosystem Packagist
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 8.8

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required Low (PR:L)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2018-14630

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: 3.5.2 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 3.5.2
moodle/moodle fixed: 3.4.5 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 3.4.5
moodle/moodle fixed: 3.3.8 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 3.3.8
moodle/moodle fixed: 3.1.14 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 3.1.14
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-2018-14630, 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 3.5.2), 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 before versions 3.5.2, 3.4.5, 3.3.8, 3.1.14 is vulnerable to an XML import of ddwtos could lead to intentional remote code execution. When importing legacy 'drag and drop into text' (ddwtos) type quiz questions, it was possible to inject and execute PHP code from within the imported questions, either intentionally or by importing questions from an untrusted source.

CVE-2018-14630 Affected Moodle/moodle Versions

4 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.5.23.4.53.3.83.1.14
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 3.5.0
< 3.5.2
3.5.2
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 3.4.0
< 3.4.5
3.4.5
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 3.2.0
< 3.3.8
3.3.8
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
< 3.1.14
3.1.14

References

NVD — CVE-2018-14630 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-14630
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/09cbca8566a388e8f0a1a0cfd86cd0667088ed2c
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/be092b730910ad97fff0511e177a097ec1cc4b1c
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/cb8aefa658cf7ad8f002a480343afb2dea94cc08
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/cfc4393aa689c277a27b9a040ff7dcbdac4e41dd
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/da1eeea0ff3d292b7669e478abc114872dd9cc8f
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2018-14630
Moodle/moodle Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/moodle/moodle
moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.p... WEB
https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=376023
seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2018... WEB
https://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2018/Sep/28
Moodle/moodle Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20200227111301/https://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105354
www.sec-consult.com/en/blog/advisories/... WEB
https://www.sec-consult.com/en/blog/advisories/remote-code-execution-php-unserialize-moodle-open-source-learning-platform-cve-2018-14630
git.moodle.org/gw WEB
http://git.moodle.org/gw?p=moodle.git&a=search&h=HEAD&st=commit&s=MDL-62880

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2018-14630?
CVE-2018-14630 is a security vulnerability in Moodle/moodle involving Moodle XML import of ddwtos could lead to intentional remote code execution under CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection').
Which Moodle/moodle versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 3.5.2, 3.4.5, 3.3.8, 3.1.14 across affected packages: moodle/moodle.
What version fixes CVE-2018-14630?
Upgrading to 3.5.2, 3.4.5, 3.3.8, 3.1.14 (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 3.5.2, 3.4.5, 3.3.8, 3.1.14. Upgrade your dependency to 3.5.2, 3.4.5, 3.3.8, 3.1.14 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2018-14630?
CVE-2018-14630 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2018-14630?
CVE-2018-14630 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-2018-14630?
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-c3pr-h96w-2jjg",
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  "published" : "2022-05-13T01:34:31Z",
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  "summary" : "Moodle XML import of ddwtos could lead to intentional remote code execution",
  "details" : "moodle before versions 3.5.2, 3.4.5, 3.3.8, 3.1.14 is vulnerable to an XML import of ddwtos could lead to intentional remote code execution. When importing legacy 'drag and drop into text' (ddwtos) type quiz questions, it was possible to inject and execute PHP code from within the imported questions, either intentionally or by importing questions from an untrusted source.",
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}