CVE-2011-4287: Moodle/moodle Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-j3x5-cwfj-pfcw
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CWE-263
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2011-4287 is a MODERATE remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-263: Password Aging with Long Expiration) affecting Moodle/moodle libraries in the Packagist ecosystem. The issue involves moodle does not force password changes for autosubscribed users. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.0.2.

CVE-2011-4287 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2011-4287
GHSA Identifier GHSA-j3x5-cwfj-pfcw
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-263: Password Aging with Long Expiration
Affected Product Moodle/moodle
Package Ecosystem Packagist
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2011-4287

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: 2.0.2 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 2.0.2
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-2011-4287, 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 2.0.2), 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-263: Password Aging with Long Expiration, where the product supports password aging, but the expiration period is too long. 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

admin/uploaduser_form.php in Moodle 2.0.x before 2.0.3 does not force password changes for autosubscribed users, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain access by leveraging knowledge of the initial password of a new user.

CVE-2011-4287 Affected Moodle/moodle Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.0.2
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 2.0.0
< 2.0.2
2.0.2

References

NVD — CVE-2011-4287 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-4287
git.moodle.org PACKAGE
http://git.moodle.org
git.moodle.org/gw WEB
http://git.moodle.org/gw?p=moodle.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=22a77963439e00441949440f0517135b3a5418da
git.moodle.org/gw WEB
http://git.moodle.org/gw?p=moodle.git;a=commit;h=22a77963439e00441949440f0517135b3a5418da
moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.p... WEB
http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=175588
Moodle/moodle Security Information SECURITY
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/11/14/1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2011-4287?
CVE-2011-4287 is a security vulnerability in Moodle/moodle involving Moodle does not force password changes for autosubscribed users under CWE-263: Password Aging with Long Expiration.
Which Moodle/moodle versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.0.2 across affected packages: moodle/moodle.
What version fixes CVE-2011-4287?
Upgrading to 2.0.2 (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 2.0.2. Upgrade your dependency to 2.0.2 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2011-4287?
CVE-2011-4287 is classified under CWE-263: Password Aging with Long Expiration (The product supports password aging, but the expiration period is too long.).
How can I check Packagist dependencies for CVE-2011-4287?
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-j3x5-cwfj-pfcw",
  "modified" : "2025-04-12T02:35:07Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-13T01:13:17Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2011-4287" ],
  "summary" : "Moodle does not force password changes for autosubscribed users",
  "details" : "admin/uploaduser_form.php in Moodle 2.0.x before 2.0.3 does not force password changes for autosubscribed users, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain access by leveraging knowledge of the initial password of a new user.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Packagist",
      "name" : "moodle/moodle"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.0.2"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-4287"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "http://git.moodle.org"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://git.moodle.org/gw?p=moodle.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=22a77963439e00441949440f0517135b3a5418da"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://git.moodle.org/gw?p=moodle.git;a=commit;h=22a77963439e00441949440f0517135b3a5418da"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=175588"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/11/14/1"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-263" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2025-04-12T02:35:07Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2012-07-16T10:28:00Z"
  }
}