CVE-2011-4297: Moodle/moodle Moodle Does Not Properly Restrict Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-62wv-866c-rh86
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CWE-863
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2011-4297 is a MODERATE moodle does not properly restrict vulnerability (CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization) affecting Moodle/moodle libraries in the Packagist ecosystem. The issue involves moodle does not properly restrict comment capabilities. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.0.4, 2.1.1.

CVE-2011-4297 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2011-4297
GHSA Identifier GHSA-62wv-866c-rh86
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization
Affected Product Moodle/moodle
Package Ecosystem Packagist
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2011-4297

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: 2.0.4 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 2.0.4
moodle/moodle fixed: 2.1.1 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 2.1.1
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-2011-4297, 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 2.0.4), 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-863: Incorrect Authorization, where the product performs an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action, but it does not correctly perform the check. 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

comment/lib.php in Moodle 2.0.x before 2.0.4 and 2.1.x before 2.1.1 does not properly restrict comment capabilities, which allows remote attackers to post a comment by leveraging the guest role and operating on a front-page activity.

CVE-2011-4297 Affected Moodle/moodle Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.0.42.1.1
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 2.0.0
< 2.0.4
2.0.4
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 2.1.0
< 2.1.1
2.1.1

References

NVD — CVE-2011-4297 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-4297
git.moodle.org PACKAGE
http://git.moodle.org
git.moodle.org/gw WEB
http://git.moodle.org/gw?p=moodle.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=9da3c2efadcc5f56cb8adc19c67ed16be35780f3
git.moodle.org/gw WEB
http://git.moodle.org/gw?p=moodle.git;a=commit;h=9da3c2efadcc5f56cb8adc19c67ed16be35780f3
moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.p... WEB
http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=182740
Moodle/moodle Security Information SECURITY
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/11/14/1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2011-4297?
CVE-2011-4297 is a security vulnerability in Moodle/moodle involving Moodle does not properly restrict comment capabilities under CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization.
Which Moodle/moodle versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.0.4, 2.1.1 across affected packages: moodle/moodle.
What version fixes CVE-2011-4297?
Upgrading to 2.0.4, 2.1.1 (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 2.0.4, 2.1.1. Upgrade your dependency to 2.0.4, 2.1.1 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2011-4297?
CVE-2011-4297 is classified under CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization (The product performs an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action, but it does not correctly perform the check.).
How can I check Packagist dependencies for CVE-2011-4297?
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-62wv-866c-rh86",
  "modified" : "2025-04-12T02:53:38Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-13T01:13:15Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2011-4297" ],
  "summary" : "Moodle does not properly restrict comment capabilities",
  "details" : "comment/lib.php in Moodle 2.0.x before 2.0.4 and 2.1.x before 2.1.1 does not properly restrict comment capabilities, which allows remote attackers to post a comment by leveraging the guest role and operating on a front-page activity.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V4",
    "score" : "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/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" : "2.0.4"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Packagist",
      "name" : "moodle/moodle"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.1.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.1.1"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-4297"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "http://git.moodle.org"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://git.moodle.org/gw?p=moodle.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=9da3c2efadcc5f56cb8adc19c67ed16be35780f3"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://git.moodle.org/gw?p=moodle.git;a=commit;h=9da3c2efadcc5f56cb8adc19c67ed16be35780f3"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=182740"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/11/14/1"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-863" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2025-04-12T02:53:38Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2012-07-16T10:28:00Z"
  }
}