CVE-2012-3387: Moodle/moodle Authentication Bypass Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-w66h-c2vj-cm7f
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CWE-287
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2012-3387 is a MODERATE authentication bypass vulnerability (CWE-287: Improper Authentication) affecting Moodle/moodle libraries in the Packagist ecosystem. The issue involves moodle authentication bypass in file upload. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.3.1.

CVE-2012-3387 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2012-3387
GHSA Identifier GHSA-w66h-c2vj-cm7f
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-287: Improper Authentication
Affected Product Moodle/moodle
Package Ecosystem Packagist
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2012-3387

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: 2.3.1 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 2.3.1
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-2012-3387, 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 2.3.1), 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-287: Improper Authentication, where when an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct. 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 2.3.x before 2.3.1 uses only a client-side check for whether references are permitted in a file upload, which allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended alias (aka shortcut) restrictions via a client that omits this check.

CVE-2012-3387 Affected Moodle/moodle Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.3.1
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 2.3
< 2.3.1
2.3.1

References

NVD — CVE-2012-3387 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-3387
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/3b6629c088f14c6ee8f13a009ff27441d164f334
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/61a339e59857fd36080f4a468a16cd6a539d90bb
exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/769... WEB
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/76954
Moodle/moodle Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/moodle/moodle
Moodle/moodle Security Information SECURITY
https://web.archive.org/web/20121104220059/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/54481
git.moodle.org/gw WEB
http://git.moodle.org/gw?p=moodle.git&a=search&h=HEAD&st=commit&s=MDL-33948
Moodle/moodle Security Information SECURITY
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2012/07/17/1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2012-3387?
CVE-2012-3387 is a security vulnerability in Moodle/moodle involving Moodle Authentication Bypass in File Upload under CWE-287: Improper Authentication.
Which Moodle/moodle versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.3.1 across affected packages: moodle/moodle.
What version fixes CVE-2012-3387?
Upgrading to 2.3.1 (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 2.3.1. Upgrade your dependency to 2.3.1 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2012-3387?
CVE-2012-3387 is classified under CWE-287: Improper Authentication (When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct.).
How can I check Packagist dependencies for CVE-2012-3387?
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-w66h-c2vj-cm7f",
  "modified" : "2024-01-11T22:06:32Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-13T01:12:59Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2012-3387" ],
  "summary" : "Moodle Authentication Bypass in File Upload",
  "details" : "Moodle 2.3.x before 2.3.1 uses only a client-side check for whether references are permitted in a file upload, which allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended alias (aka shortcut) restrictions via a client that omits this check.",
  "severity" : [ ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Packagist",
      "name" : "moodle/moodle"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.3"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.3.1"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-3387"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/3b6629c088f14c6ee8f13a009ff27441d164f334"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/61a339e59857fd36080f4a468a16cd6a539d90bb"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/76954"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/moodle/moodle"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20121104220059/http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/54481"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://git.moodle.org/gw?p=moodle.git&a=search&h=HEAD&st=commit&s=MDL-33948"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2012/07/17/1"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-287" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2024-01-11T22:06:32Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2012-07-23T21:55:00Z"
  }
}