CVE-2014-3543: Moodle/moodle Moodle Arbitrary File Read Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-27j2-c838-c3qg
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CWE-611
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2014-3543 is a MODERATE moodle arbitrary file read vulnerability (CWE-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference) affecting Moodle/moodle libraries in the Packagist ecosystem. The issue involves moodle arbitrary file read via xml external entity vulnerability. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.7.1, 2.6.4, 2.5.7, 2.4.11.

CVE-2014-3543 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2014-3543
GHSA Identifier GHSA-27j2-c838-c3qg
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference
Affected Product Moodle/moodle
Package Ecosystem Packagist
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2014-3543

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: 2.7.1 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 2.7.1
moodle/moodle fixed: 2.6.4 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 2.6.4
moodle/moodle fixed: 2.5.7 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 2.5.7
moodle/moodle fixed: 2.4.11 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 2.4.11
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-2014-3543, 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 2.7.1), 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-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference, where the product processes an xml document that can contain xml entities with uris that resolve to documents outside of the intended sphere of control, causing the product to embed incorrect documents into its output. 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

`mod/imscp/locallib.php` in Moodle through 2.3.11, 2.4.x before 2.4.11, 2.5.x before 2.5.7, 2.6.x before 2.6.4, and 2.7.x before 2.7.1 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a package with a manifest file containing an XML external entity declaration in conjunction with an entity reference, related to an XML External Entity (XXE) issue affecting IMSCP resources and the IMSCC format.

CVE-2014-3543 Affected Moodle/moodle Versions

4 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.7.12.6.42.5.72.4.11
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 2.7.0
< 2.7.1
All 1 versions
2.7.0
2.7.1
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 2.6.0
< 2.6.4
2.6.4
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 2.5.0
< 2.5.7
2.5.7
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
< 2.4.11
2.4.11

References

NVD — CVE-2014-3543 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-3543
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/595ef4772d330a20c757635ab090acdcc9b2a2fa
git.moodle.org/gw WEB
https://git.moodle.org/gw?p=moodle.git;a=commit;h=595ef4772d330a20c757635ab090acdcc9b2a2fa
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=264264
Moodle/moodle Security Information SECURITY
http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/07/21/1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2014-3543?
CVE-2014-3543 is a security vulnerability in Moodle/moodle involving Moodle Arbitrary File Read via XML External Entity vulnerability under CWE-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference.
Which Moodle/moodle versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.7.1, 2.6.4, 2.5.7, 2.4.11 across affected packages: moodle/moodle.
What version fixes CVE-2014-3543?
Upgrading to 2.7.1, 2.6.4, 2.5.7, 2.4.11 (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 2.7.1, 2.6.4, 2.5.7, 2.4.11. Upgrade your dependency to 2.7.1, 2.6.4, 2.5.7, 2.4.11 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2014-3543?
CVE-2014-3543 is classified under CWE-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference (The product processes an XML document that can contain XML entities with URIs that resolve to documents outside of the intended sphere of control, causing the product to embed incorrect documents into its output.).
How can I check Packagist dependencies for CVE-2014-3543?
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-27j2-c838-c3qg",
  "modified" : "2023-08-15T22:20:28Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-13T01:12:40Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2014-3543" ],
  "summary" : "Moodle Arbitrary File Read via XML External Entity vulnerability",
  "details" : "`mod/imscp/locallib.php` in Moodle through 2.3.11, 2.4.x before 2.4.11, 2.5.x before 2.5.7, 2.6.x before 2.6.4, and 2.7.x before 2.7.1 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a package with a manifest file containing an XML external entity declaration in conjunction with an entity reference, related to an XML External Entity (XXE) issue affecting IMSCP resources and the IMSCC format.",
  "severity" : [ ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Packagist",
      "name" : "moodle/moodle"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.7.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.7.1"
      } ]
    } ],
    "versions" : [ "2.7.0" ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Packagist",
      "name" : "moodle/moodle"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.6.0"
      }, {
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      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
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    }
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Packagist",
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    },
    "ranges" : [ {
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      }, {
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      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
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    }
  }, {
    "package" : {
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      "name" : "moodle/moodle"
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    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
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      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.4.11"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 2.4.10"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-3543"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/595ef4772d330a20c757635ab090acdcc9b2a2fa"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://git.moodle.org/gw?p=moodle.git;a=commit;h=595ef4772d330a20c757635ab090acdcc9b2a2fa"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/moodle/moodle"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=264264"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/07/21/1"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-611" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-08-15T22:20:28Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2014-07-29T11:10:00Z"
  }
}