CVE-2018-1137: Moodle/moodle Moodle Portfolio Script Allows Instantiation Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-vxqh-mx28-7ghw
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CVSS 8.1
CWE-20
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2018-1137 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.1) moodle portfolio script allows instantiation vulnerability (CWE-20: Improper Input Validation) affecting Moodle/moodle libraries in the Packagist ecosystem. The issue involves moodle portfolio script allows instantiation of class chosen by user. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.1.12, 3.2.9, 3.3.6, 3.4.3.

CVE-2018-1137 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2018-1137
GHSA Identifier GHSA-vxqh-mx28-7ghw
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.1
CWE Classification CWE-20: Improper Input Validation
Affected Product Moodle/moodle
Package Ecosystem Packagist
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 8.1

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:H/A:H).

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 High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2018-1137

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: 3.1.12 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 3.1.12
moodle/moodle fixed: 3.2.9 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 3.2.9
moodle/moodle fixed: 3.3.6 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 3.3.6
moodle/moodle fixed: 3.4.3 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 3.4.3
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-2018-1137, 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 3.1.12), 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-20: Improper Input Validation, where the product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly. 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

An issue was discovered in Moodle 3.x. By substituting URLs in portfolios, users can instantiate any class. This can also be exploited by users who are logged in as guests to create a DDoS attack.

CVE-2018-1137 Affected Moodle/moodle Versions

4 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.1.123.2.93.3.63.4.3
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 3.1
< 3.1.12
3.1.12
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 3.2
< 3.2.9
3.2.9
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 3.3
< 3.3.6
3.3.6
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 3.4
< 3.4.3
3.4.3

References

NVD — CVE-2018-1137 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-1137
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=371204
Moodle/moodle Security Information SECURITY
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/104307

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2018-1137?
CVE-2018-1137 is a security vulnerability in Moodle/moodle involving Moodle Portfolio script allows instantiation of class chosen by user under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation.
Which Moodle/moodle versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 3.1.12, 3.2.9, 3.3.6, 3.4.3 across affected packages: moodle/moodle.
What version fixes CVE-2018-1137?
Upgrading to 3.1.12, 3.2.9, 3.3.6, 3.4.3 (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 3.1.12, 3.2.9, 3.3.6, 3.4.3. Upgrade your dependency to 3.1.12, 3.2.9, 3.3.6, 3.4.3 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2018-1137?
CVE-2018-1137 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.1 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2018-1137?
CVE-2018-1137 is classified under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation (The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly.).
How can I check Packagist dependencies for CVE-2018-1137?
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-vxqh-mx28-7ghw",
  "modified" : "2024-04-23T23:42:01Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-14T03:16:23Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2018-1137" ],
  "summary" : "Moodle Portfolio script allows instantiation of class chosen by user",
  "details" : "An issue was discovered in Moodle 3.x. By substituting URLs in portfolios, users can instantiate any class. This can also be exploited by users who are logged in as guests to create a DDoS attack.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Packagist",
      "name" : "moodle/moodle"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.1"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.1.12"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Packagist",
      "name" : "moodle/moodle"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.2"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.2.9"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Packagist",
      "name" : "moodle/moodle"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.3"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.3.6"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Packagist",
      "name" : "moodle/moodle"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.4"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.4.3"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-1137"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/moodle/moodle"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=371204"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/104307"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-20" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2024-04-23T23:42:01Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2018-05-25T12:29:00Z"
  }
}