CVE-2011-4292: Moodle/moodle Denial of Service Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-fhgh-fjh9-vq62
Share
CWE-89
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2011-4292 is a MODERATE denial of service vulnerability (CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')) affecting Moodle/moodle libraries in the Packagist ecosystem. The issue involves moodle allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (invalid database records). Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.0.3.

CVE-2011-4292 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2011-4292
GHSA Identifier GHSA-fhgh-fjh9-vq62
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
Affected Product Moodle/moodle
Package Ecosystem Packagist
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2011-4292

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: 2.0.3 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 2.0.3
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-2011-4292, 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 2.0.3), 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-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection'), where the product constructs all or part of an sql command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended sql command when it is sent to a downstream component. without sufficient removal or quoting of sql syntax in user-controllable inputs, the generated sql query can cause those inputs to be interpreted as sql instead of ordinary user data. 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 2.0.x before 2.0.3 allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (invalid database records) via a series of crafted comments operations.

CVE-2011-4292 Affected Moodle/moodle Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.0.3
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 2.0.0
< 2.0.3
2.0.3

References

NVD — CVE-2011-4292 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-4292
git.moodle.org PACKAGE
http://git.moodle.org
git.moodle.org/gw WEB
http://git.moodle.org/gw?p=moodle.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=acb4688d29a7cc028803ee3d81edc7f1b6515c64
git.moodle.org/gw WEB
http://git.moodle.org/gw?p=moodle.git;a=commit;h=acb4688d29a7cc028803ee3d81edc7f1b6515c64
moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.p... WEB
http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=175594
Moodle/moodle Security Information SECURITY
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/11/14/1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2011-4292?
CVE-2011-4292 is a security vulnerability in Moodle/moodle involving Moodle allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (invalid database records) under CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection').
Which Moodle/moodle versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.0.3 across affected packages: moodle/moodle.
What version fixes CVE-2011-4292?
Upgrading to 2.0.3 (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 2.0.3. Upgrade your dependency to 2.0.3 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2011-4292?
CVE-2011-4292 is classified under CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') (The product constructs all or part of an SQL command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended SQL command when it is sent to a downstream component. Without sufficient removal or quoting of SQL syntax in user-controllable inputs, the generated SQL query can cause those inputs to be interpreted as SQL instead of ordinary user data.).
How can I check Packagist dependencies for CVE-2011-4292?
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-fhgh-fjh9-vq62",
  "modified" : "2025-04-12T02:32:59Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-13T01:13:18Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2011-4292" ],
  "summary" : "Moodle allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (invalid database records)",
  "details" : "Moodle 2.0.x before 2.0.3 allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (invalid database records) via a series of crafted comments operations.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Packagist",
      "name" : "moodle/moodle"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.0.3"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-4292"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "http://git.moodle.org"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://git.moodle.org/gw?p=moodle.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=acb4688d29a7cc028803ee3d81edc7f1b6515c64"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://git.moodle.org/gw?p=moodle.git;a=commit;h=acb4688d29a7cc028803ee3d81edc7f1b6515c64"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=175594"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/11/14/1"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-89" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2025-04-12T02:32:59Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2012-07-16T10:28:00Z"
  }
}