CVE-2024-43426: Moodle/moodle Moodle Has Arbitrary File Read Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-vjmm-r9gg-425m
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CVSS 7.5
CWE-1287
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2024-43426 is a MODERATE (CVSS 7.5) moodle has arbitrary file read vulnerability (CWE-1287: Improper Validation of Specified Type of Input) affecting Moodle/moodle libraries in the Packagist ecosystem. The issue involves moodle has arbitrary file read risk through pdftex. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 4.1.12, 4.2.9, 4.3.6, 4.4.2.

CVE-2024-43426 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2024-43426
GHSA Identifier GHSA-vjmm-r9gg-425m
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.5
CWE Classification CWE-1287: Improper Validation of Specified Type of Input
Affected Product Moodle/moodle
Package Ecosystem Packagist
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.5

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

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2024-43426

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: 4.1.12 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 4.1.12
moodle/moodle fixed: 4.2.9 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 4.2.9
moodle/moodle fixed: 4.3.6 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 4.3.6
moodle/moodle fixed: 4.4.2 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 4.4.2
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-2024-43426, 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 4.1.12), 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-1287: Improper Validation of Specified Type of Input, where the product receives input that is expected to be of a certain type, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input is actually of the expected type. 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 found in pdfTeX. Insufficient sanitizing in the TeX notation filter resulted in an arbitrary file read risk on sites where pdfTeX is available, such as those with TeX Live installed.

CVE-2024-43426 Affected Moodle/moodle Versions

4 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
4.1.124.2.94.3.64.4.2
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
< 4.1.12
4.1.12
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 4.2.0-beta
< 4.2.9
4.2.9
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 4.3.0-beta
< 4.3.6
4.3.6
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 4.4.0-beta
< 4.4.2
4.4.2

References

NVD — CVE-2024-43426 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-43426
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2304254
git.moodle.org/gw WEB
https://git.moodle.org/gw?p=moodle.git&a=search&h=HEAD&st=commit&s=MDL-82745
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=461194

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2024-43426?
CVE-2024-43426 is a security vulnerability in Moodle/moodle involving Moodle has arbitrary file read risk through pdfTeX under CWE-1287: Improper Validation of Specified Type of Input.
Which Moodle/moodle versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 4.1.12, 4.2.9, 4.3.6, 4.4.2 across affected packages: moodle/moodle.
What version fixes CVE-2024-43426?
Upgrading to 4.1.12, 4.2.9, 4.3.6, 4.4.2 (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 4.1.12, 4.2.9, 4.3.6, 4.4.2. Upgrade your dependency to 4.1.12, 4.2.9, 4.3.6, 4.4.2 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2024-43426?
CVE-2024-43426 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2024-43426?
CVE-2024-43426 is classified under CWE-1287: Improper Validation of Specified Type of Input (The product receives input that is expected to be of a certain type, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input is actually of the expected type.).
How can I check Packagist dependencies for CVE-2024-43426?
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-vjmm-r9gg-425m",
  "modified" : "2025-02-11T00:36:35Z",
  "published" : "2024-11-07T15:31:52Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2024-43426" ],
  "summary" : "Moodle has arbitrary file read risk through pdfTeX",
  "details" : "A flaw was found in pdfTeX. Insufficient sanitizing in the TeX notation filter resulted in an arbitrary file read risk on sites where pdfTeX is available, such as those with TeX Live installed.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N"
  }, {
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    "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"
  } ],
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    },
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    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
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      }, {
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  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2304254"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://git.moodle.org/gw?p=moodle.git&a=search&h=HEAD&st=commit&s=MDL-82745"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/moodle/moodle"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=461194"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-1287" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2024-11-07T18:19:24Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2024-11-07T14:15:15Z"
  }
}