CVE-2017-2641: Moodle/moodle SQL Injection Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-xhq3-455r-xv44
Share
CVSS 9.8
CWE-89
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2017-2641 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) sql injection vulnerability (CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')) affecting Moodle/moodle libraries in the Packagist ecosystem. The issue involves moodle sql injection via user preferences. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.7.19, 3.0.9, 3.1.5, 3.2.2.

CVE-2017-2641 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2017-2641
GHSA Identifier GHSA-xhq3-455r-xv44
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.8
CWE Classification CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
Affected Product Moodle/moodle
Package Ecosystem Packagist
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 9.8

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2017-2641

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: 2.7.19 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 2.7.19
moodle/moodle fixed: 3.0.9 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 3.0.9
moodle/moodle fixed: 3.1.5 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 3.1.5
moodle/moodle fixed: 3.2.2 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 3.2.2
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-2017-2641, 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 2.7.19), 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-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection'), where the product constructs all or part of an sql command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended sql command when it is sent to a downstream component. without sufficient removal or quoting of sql syntax in user-controllable inputs, the generated sql query can cause those inputs to be interpreted as sql instead of ordinary user data. 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

In Moodle 2.x and 3.x, SQL injection can occur via user preferences.

CVE-2017-2641 Affected Moodle/moodle Versions

4 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.7.193.0.93.1.53.2.2
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 2.7
< 2.7.19
2.7.19
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 3.0
< 3.0.9
3.0.9
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 3.1
< 3.1.5
3.1.5
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
≥ 3.2
< 3.2.2
3.2.2

References

NVD — CVE-2017-2641 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-2641
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=349419
www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41828 WEB
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41828
Moodle/moodle Security Information SECURITY
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/96977
Moodle/moodle Security Information SECURITY
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038174

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2017-2641?
CVE-2017-2641 is a security vulnerability in Moodle/moodle involving Moodle SQL injection via user preferences under CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection').
Which Moodle/moodle versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.7.19, 3.0.9, 3.1.5, 3.2.2 across affected packages: moodle/moodle.
What version fixes CVE-2017-2641?
Upgrading to 2.7.19, 3.0.9, 3.1.5, 3.2.2 (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 2.7.19, 3.0.9, 3.1.5, 3.2.2. Upgrade your dependency to 2.7.19, 3.0.9, 3.1.5, 3.2.2 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2017-2641?
CVE-2017-2641 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2017-2641?
CVE-2017-2641 is classified under CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') (The product constructs all or part of an SQL command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended SQL command when it is sent to a downstream component. Without sufficient removal or quoting of SQL syntax in user-controllable inputs, the generated SQL query can cause those inputs to be interpreted as SQL instead of ordinary user data.).
How can I check Packagist dependencies for CVE-2017-2641?
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-xhq3-455r-xv44",
  "modified" : "2024-04-23T23:42:15Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-17T02:12:39Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2017-2641" ],
  "summary" : "Moodle SQL injection via user preferences",
  "details" : "In Moodle 2.x and 3.x, SQL injection can occur via user preferences.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Packagist",
      "name" : "moodle/moodle"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "2.7"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.7.19"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Packagist",
      "name" : "moodle/moodle"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.0.9"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Packagist",
      "name" : "moodle/moodle"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.1"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.1.5"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Packagist",
      "name" : "moodle/moodle"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.2"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.2.2"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-2641"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/moodle/moodle"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=349419"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41828"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/96977"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038174"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-89" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2024-04-23T23:42:15Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2017-03-26T18:59:00Z"
  }
}