CVE-2011-4279: Moodle/moodle Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-phqj-xp48-7p7c
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CWE-284 CWE-200
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2011-4279 is a MODERATE remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-284: Improper Access Control) affecting Moodle/moodle libraries in the Packagist ecosystem. The issue involves moodle does not use the forceloginforprofiles setting for course-profiles access control. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.0.2.

CVE-2011-4279 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2011-4279
GHSA Identifier GHSA-phqj-xp48-7p7c
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-284: Improper Access Control
Affected Product Moodle/moodle
Package Ecosystem Packagist
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2011-4279

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-2011-4279, 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-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

Moodle 2.0.x before 2.0.2 does not use the forceloginforprofiles setting for course-profiles access control, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain potentially sensitive information via vectors involving use of a search engine, as demonstrated by the search functionality of Google, Yahoo!, Wrensoft Zoom, MSN, Yandex, and AltaVista.

CVE-2011-4279 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-2011-4279 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-4279
git.moodle.org PACKAGE
http://git.moodle.org
git.moodle.org/gw WEB
http://git.moodle.org/gw?p=moodle.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=81b58cc227cf96a1cd2e002cc210b7b3e376fd17
git.moodle.org/gw WEB
http://git.moodle.org/gw?p=moodle.git;a=commit;h=81b58cc227cf96a1cd2e002cc210b7b3e376fd17
moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.p... WEB
http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=170004
Moodle/moodle Security Information SECURITY
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/11/14/1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2011-4279?
CVE-2011-4279 is a security vulnerability in Moodle/moodle involving Moodle does not use the forceloginforprofiles setting for course-profiles access control under CWE-284: Improper Access Control.
Which Moodle/moodle versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.0.2 across affected packages: moodle/moodle.
What version fixes CVE-2011-4279?
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-2011-4279?
CVE-2011-4279 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-2011-4279?
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-phqj-xp48-7p7c",
  "modified" : "2025-04-12T02:49:09Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-13T01:13:16Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2011-4279" ],
  "summary" : "Moodle does not use the forceloginforprofiles setting for course-profiles access control",
  "details" : "Moodle 2.0.x before 2.0.2 does not use the forceloginforprofiles setting for course-profiles access control, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain potentially sensitive information via vectors involving use of a search engine, as demonstrated by the search functionality of Google, Yahoo!, Wrensoft Zoom, MSN, Yandex, and AltaVista.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/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-2011-4279"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "http://git.moodle.org"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://git.moodle.org/gw?p=moodle.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=81b58cc227cf96a1cd2e002cc210b7b3e376fd17"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://git.moodle.org/gw?p=moodle.git;a=commit;h=81b58cc227cf96a1cd2e002cc210b7b3e376fd17"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=170004"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/11/14/1"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-200", "CWE-284" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2025-04-12T02:49:09Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2012-07-16T10:28:00Z"
  }
}