CVE-2016-3733: Moodle/moodle Moodle Improper Access Control Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-gr8j-qm8r-rfgg
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CVSS 4.3
CWE-284
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2016-3733 is a MODERATE (CVSS 4.3) moodle improper access control vulnerability (CWE-284: Improper Access Control) affecting Moodle/moodle libraries in the Packagist ecosystem. The issue involves moodle improper access control. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.7.14, 2.8.12, 2.9.6, 3.0.4.

CVE-2016-3733 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2016-3733
GHSA Identifier GHSA-gr8j-qm8r-rfgg
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 4.3
CWE Classification CWE-284: Improper Access Control
Affected Product Moodle/moodle
Package Ecosystem Packagist
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 4.3

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:N/I:L/A:N).

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 None (C:N)
Integrity Low (I:L)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2016-3733

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: 2.7.14 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 2.7.14
moodle/moodle fixed: 2.8.12 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 2.8.12
moodle/moodle fixed: 2.9.6 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 2.9.6
moodle/moodle fixed: 3.0.4 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 3.0.4
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-2016-3733, 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 2.7.14), 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-284: Improper Access Control, where the product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor. 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 "restore teacher" feature in Moodle 3.0 through 3.0.3, 2.9 through 2.9.5, 2.8 through 2.8.11, 2.7 through 2.7.13, and earlier allows remote authenticated users to overwrite the course idnumber.

CVE-2016-3733 Affected Moodle/moodle Versions

4 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.7.142.8.122.9.63.0.4
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 2.7
< 2.7.14
2.7.14
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 2.8
< 2.8.12
2.8.12
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 2.9
< 2.9.6
2.9.6
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 3.0
< 3.0.4
3.0.4

References

NVD — CVE-2016-3733 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-3733
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/12c28574868d6f6e5c57fb63298c82cb8bdd0bb6
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/24b0c3c86ae96e46b87d6e9d6bcf4a6014dae8f0
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/2950f9fb9128f9ae48e00b864da90be76c2bf139
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/3c9d2b104023a8b9fdc5f4d7e136083babd2609a
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1335933
git.moodle.org/gw WEB
http://git.moodle.org/gw?p=moodle.git&a=search&h=HEAD&st=commit&s=MDL-51369
Moodle/moodle Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/05/17/4
Moodle/moodle Security Information SECURITY
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1035902

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2016-3733?
CVE-2016-3733 is a security vulnerability in Moodle/moodle involving Moodle Improper Access Control under CWE-284: Improper Access Control.
Which Moodle/moodle versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.7.14, 2.8.12, 2.9.6, 3.0.4 across affected packages: moodle/moodle.
What version fixes CVE-2016-3733?
Upgrading to 2.7.14, 2.8.12, 2.9.6, 3.0.4 (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 2.7.14, 2.8.12, 2.9.6, 3.0.4. Upgrade your dependency to 2.7.14, 2.8.12, 2.9.6, 3.0.4 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2016-3733?
CVE-2016-3733 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 4.3 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2016-3733?
CVE-2016-3733 is classified under CWE-284: Improper Access Control (The product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor.).
How can I check Packagist dependencies for CVE-2016-3733?
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-gr8j-qm8r-rfgg",
  "modified" : "2024-01-26T20:49:25Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-13T01:12:38Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2016-3733" ],
  "summary" : "Moodle Improper Access Control",
  "details" : "The \"restore teacher\" feature in Moodle 3.0 through 3.0.3, 2.9 through 2.9.5, 2.8 through 2.8.11, 2.7 through 2.7.13, and earlier allows remote authenticated users to overwrite the course idnumber.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
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    },
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      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
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    "ranges" : [ {
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      "events" : [ {
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  }, {
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    },
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  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/12c28574868d6f6e5c57fb63298c82cb8bdd0bb6"
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    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/24b0c3c86ae96e46b87d6e9d6bcf4a6014dae8f0"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/2950f9fb9128f9ae48e00b864da90be76c2bf139"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/3c9d2b104023a8b9fdc5f4d7e136083babd2609a"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1335933"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://git.moodle.org/gw?p=moodle.git&a=search&h=HEAD&st=commit&s=MDL-51369"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/05/17/4"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1035902"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-284" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2024-01-26T20:49:25Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2017-04-20T21:59:00Z"
  }
}