CVE-2015-1493: Moodle/moodle Path Traversal Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-gphj-63h8-r9vq
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CWE-22
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2015-1493 is a MODERATE path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')) affecting Moodle/moodle libraries in the Packagist ecosystem. The issue involves moodle directory traversal vulnerability. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.6.8, 2.7.5, 2.8.3.

CVE-2015-1493 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2015-1493
GHSA Identifier GHSA-gphj-63h8-r9vq
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
Affected Product Moodle/moodle
Package Ecosystem Packagist
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2015-1493

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: 2.6.8 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 2.6.8
moodle/moodle fixed: 2.7.5 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 2.7.5
moodle/moodle fixed: 2.8.3 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 2.8.3
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-2015-1493, 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 2.6.8), 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-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal'), where the product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory. 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

Directory traversal vulnerability in the min_get_slash_argument function in lib/configonlylib.php in Moodle through 2.5.9, 2.6.x before 2.6.8, 2.7.x before 2.7.5, and 2.8.x before 2.8.3 allows remote authenticated users to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the file parameter, as demonstrated by reading PHP scripts.

CVE-2015-1493 Affected Moodle/moodle Versions

3 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.6.82.7.52.8.3
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
< 2.6.8
2.6.8
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 2.7.0
< 2.7.5
2.7.5
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 2.8.0
< 2.8.3
2.8.3

References

NVD — CVE-2015-1493 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-1493
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/0289be1321babfa588fb5b18ebb08a296eed9eee
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/a72f2cca7f08c354c18a3923c3f05eee50bdd434
Moodle/moodle Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/moodle/moodle
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/af9a7937cc085f96bdbc4724cadec6eeae0242fc
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/cc496f5b27d36a8df4bcede997a484eb9719363b
moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.p... WEB
https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=279956
git.moodle.org/gw WEB
http://git.moodle.org/gw?p=moodle.git&a=search&h=HEAD&st=commit&s=MDL-48980
git.moodle.org/gw WEB
http://git.moodle.org/gw?p=moodle.git;a=commit;h=af9a7937cc085f96bdbc4724cadec6eeae0242fc
Moodle/moodle Security Information SECURITY
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2015/02/04/15
Moodle/moodle Security Information SECURITY
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2015/02/09/2

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2015-1493?
CVE-2015-1493 is a security vulnerability in Moodle/moodle involving Moodle directory traversal vulnerability under CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal').
Which Moodle/moodle versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.6.8, 2.7.5, 2.8.3 across affected packages: moodle/moodle.
What version fixes CVE-2015-1493?
Upgrading to 2.6.8, 2.7.5, 2.8.3 (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 2.6.8, 2.7.5, 2.8.3. Upgrade your dependency to 2.6.8, 2.7.5, 2.8.3 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2015-1493?
CVE-2015-1493 is classified under CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') (The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory.).
How can I check Packagist dependencies for CVE-2015-1493?
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-gphj-63h8-r9vq",
  "modified" : "2024-01-25T20:51:28Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-13T01:12:45Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2015-1493" ],
  "summary" : "Moodle directory traversal vulnerability",
  "details" : "Directory traversal vulnerability in the min_get_slash_argument function in lib/configonlylib.php in Moodle through 2.5.9, 2.6.x before 2.6.8, 2.7.x before 2.7.5, and 2.8.x before 2.8.3 allows remote authenticated users to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the file parameter, as demonstrated by reading PHP scripts.",
  "severity" : [ ],
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  }, {
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  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
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    "type" : "WEB",
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    "type" : "WEB",
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=279956"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://git.moodle.org/gw?p=moodle.git&a=search&h=HEAD&st=commit&s=MDL-48980"
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    "type" : "WEB",
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2015/02/04/15"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2015/02/09/2"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-22" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2024-01-25T20:51:28Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2015-06-01T19:59:00Z"
  }
}