CVE-2008-5153: Moodle/moodle Moodle Vulnerable To Symlink Attack Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-x7r4-26m9-hmgq
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CWE-59
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2008-5153 is a MODERATE moodle vulnerable to symlink attack vulnerability (CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')) affecting Moodle/moodle libraries in the Packagist ecosystem. The issue involves moodle vulnerable to symlink attack. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.9.4, 1.8.8, 1.7.7, 1.6.9.

CVE-2008-5153 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2008-5153
GHSA Identifier GHSA-x7r4-26m9-hmgq
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
Affected Product Moodle/moodle
Package Ecosystem Packagist
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2008-5153

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: 1.9.4 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 1.9.4
moodle/moodle fixed: 1.8.8 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 1.8.8
moodle/moodle fixed: 1.7.7 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 1.7.7
moodle/moodle fixed: 1.6.9 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 1.6.9
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-2008-5153, 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 1.9.4), 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-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following'), where the product attempts to access a file based on the filename, but it does not properly prevent that filename from identifying a link or shortcut that resolves to an unintended resource. 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

`spell-check-logic.cgi` in Moodle 1.9 before 1.9.4, 1.8 before 1.8.8, 1.7 before 1.7.7 and 1.6 before 1.6.9 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the (1) `/tmp/spell-check-debug.log`, (2) `/tmp/spell-check-before`, or (3) `/tmp/spell-check-after` temporary file.

CVE-2008-5153 Affected Moodle/moodle Versions

4 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.9.41.8.81.7.71.6.9
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 1.9.0
< 1.9.4
1.9.4
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 1.8.0
< 1.8.8
1.8.8
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 1.7.0
< 1.7.7
1.7.7
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 1.6.0
< 1.6.9
1.6.9

References

NVD — CVE-2008-5153 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-5153
exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/467... WEB
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/46708
Moodle/moodle Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/moodle/moodle
web.archive.org/web/20090821033319/... WEB
https://web.archive.org/web/20090821033319/http://secunia.com/advisories/33955
web.archive.org/web/20110511083352/... WEB
https://web.archive.org/web/20110511083352/http://uvw.ru/report.sid.txt
Moodle/moodle Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20141121115305/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/32402
lists.debian.org/debian-devel/2008/0... WEB
http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel/2008/08/msg00347.html
Moodle/moodle Security Information SECURITY
http://www.debian.org/security/2009/dsa-1724

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2008-5153?
CVE-2008-5153 is a security vulnerability in Moodle/moodle involving Moodle vulnerable to symlink attack under CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following').
Which Moodle/moodle versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.9.4, 1.8.8, 1.7.7, 1.6.9 across affected packages: moodle/moodle.
What version fixes CVE-2008-5153?
Upgrading to 1.9.4, 1.8.8, 1.7.7, 1.6.9 (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 1.9.4, 1.8.8, 1.7.7, 1.6.9. Upgrade your dependency to 1.9.4, 1.8.8, 1.7.7, 1.6.9 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2008-5153?
CVE-2008-5153 is classified under CWE-59: Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following') (The product attempts to access a file based on the filename, but it does not properly prevent that filename from identifying a link or shortcut that resolves to an unintended resource.).
How can I check Packagist dependencies for CVE-2008-5153?
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-x7r4-26m9-hmgq",
  "modified" : "2024-02-09T18:57:15Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-17T02:18:02Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2008-5153" ],
  "summary" : "Moodle vulnerable to symlink attack",
  "details" : "`spell-check-logic.cgi` in Moodle 1.9 before 1.9.4, 1.8 before 1.8.8, 1.7 before 1.7.7 and 1.6 before 1.6.9 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the (1) `/tmp/spell-check-debug.log`, (2) `/tmp/spell-check-before`, or (3) `/tmp/spell-check-after` temporary file.",
  "severity" : [ ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Packagist",
      "name" : "moodle/moodle"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "1.9.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.9.4"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
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    },
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    } ]
  }, {
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    "ranges" : [ {
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      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "1.7.0"
      }, {
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      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
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    },
    "ranges" : [ {
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      "events" : [ {
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      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-5153"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/46708"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/moodle/moodle"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20090821033319/http://secunia.com/advisories/33955"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20110511083352/http://uvw.ru/report.sid.txt"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20141121115305/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/32402"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel/2008/08/msg00347.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.debian.org/security/2009/dsa-1724"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-59" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2024-02-09T18:57:15Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2008-11-18T16:00:00Z"
  }
}