CVE-2026-26045: Moodle/moodle Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-ggxq-2mg9-8966
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CVSS 7.2
CWE-94
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-26045 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.2) 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 has a remote code execution risk via file restore. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 5.1.2, 5.0.5, 4.5.9.

CVE-2026-26045 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-26045
GHSA Identifier GHSA-ggxq-2mg9-8966
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.2
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: 7.2

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required High (PR:H)
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-2026-26045

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: 5.1.2 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 5.1.2
moodle/moodle fixed: 5.0.5 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 5.0.5
moodle/moodle fixed: 4.5.9 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 4.5.9
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-2026-26045, 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 5.1.2), 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

A flaw was identified in Moodle’s backup restore functionality where specially crafted backup files were not properly validated during processing. If a malicious backup file is restored, it could lead to unintended execution of server-side code. Since restore capabilities are typically available to privileged users, exploitation requires authenticated access. Successful exploitation could result in full compromise of the Moodle server.

CVE-2026-26045 Affected Moodle/moodle Versions

3 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
5.1.25.0.54.5.9
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 5.1.0-beta
< 5.1.2
5.1.2
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 5.0.0-beta
< 5.0.5
5.0.5
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
< 4.5.9
4.5.9

References

NVD — CVE-2026-26045 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-26045
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/566054ba11f609a6d48d09b32e85d435d49927da
Moodle/moodle Security Information SECURITY
https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-26045
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2440901
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=473314

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-26045?
CVE-2026-26045 is a security vulnerability in Moodle/moodle involving Moodle has a Remote Code Execution risk via file restore under CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection').
Which Moodle/moodle versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 5.1.2, 5.0.5, 4.5.9 across affected packages: moodle/moodle.
What version fixes CVE-2026-26045?
Upgrading to 5.1.2, 5.0.5, 4.5.9 (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 5.1.2, 5.0.5, 4.5.9. Upgrade your dependency to 5.1.2, 5.0.5, 4.5.9 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-26045?
CVE-2026-26045 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.2 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-26045?
CVE-2026-26045 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-2026-26045?
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-ggxq-2mg9-8966",
  "modified" : "2026-02-25T15:52:47Z",
  "published" : "2026-02-21T06:30:16Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-26045" ],
  "summary" : "Moodle has a Remote Code Execution risk via file restore",
  "details" : "A flaw was identified in Moodle’s backup restore functionality where specially crafted backup files were not properly validated during processing. If a malicious backup file is restored, it could lead to unintended execution of server-side code. Since restore capabilities are typically available to privileged users, exploitation requires authenticated access. Successful exploitation could result in full compromise of the Moodle server.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
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  } ],
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      }, {
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    "package" : {
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    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/566054ba11f609a6d48d09b32e85d435d49927da"
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    "url" : "https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-26045"
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    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2440901"
  }, {
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=473314"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
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    "severity" : "HIGH",
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    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-02-25T15:52:47Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-02-21T06:16:58Z"
  }
}