CVE-2023-5544: Moodle/moodle Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-j5xf-gv89-g422
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CVSS 5.4
CWE-639 CWE-79
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-5544 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.4) cross-site scripting vulnerability (CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key) affecting Moodle/moodle libraries in the Packagist ecosystem. The issue involves moodle cross-site scripting vulnerability. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 4.3.0-rc2.

CVE-2023-5544 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-5544
GHSA Identifier GHSA-j5xf-gv89-g422
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.4
CWE Classification CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key
Affected Product Moodle/moodle
Package Ecosystem Packagist
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 5.4

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N).

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

How to Fix CVE-2023-5544

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: 4.3.0-rc2 
Upgrade moodle/moodle to 4.3.0-rc2
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-2023-5544, 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 4.3.0-rc2), 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-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key, where the system's authorization functionality does not prevent one user from gaining access to another user's data or record by modifying the key value identifying the 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

Wiki comments required additional sanitizing and access restrictions to prevent a stored XSS risk and potential IDOR risk.

CVE-2023-5544 Affected Moodle/moodle Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
4.3.0-rc2
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
moodle/moodle
 Packagist
< 4.3.0-rc2
4.3.0-rc2

References

NVD — CVE-2023-5544 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-5544
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/5fec728be9df3c9fc282cd0897c73ca5cfcfea5f
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi WEB
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2243443
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=451585
git.moodle.org/gw WEB
http://git.moodle.org/gw?p=moodle.git&a=search&h=HEAD&st=commit&s=MDL-79509

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-5544?
CVE-2023-5544 is a security vulnerability in Moodle/moodle involving Moodle Cross-site Scripting vulnerability under CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key.
Which Moodle/moodle versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 4.3.0-rc2 across affected packages: moodle/moodle.
What version fixes CVE-2023-5544?
Upgrading to 4.3.0-rc2 (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 4.3.0-rc2. Upgrade your dependency to 4.3.0-rc2 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-5544?
CVE-2023-5544 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.4 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-5544?
CVE-2023-5544 is classified under CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key (The system's authorization functionality does not prevent one user from gaining access to another user's data or record by modifying the key value identifying the data.).
How can I check Packagist dependencies for CVE-2023-5544?
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-j5xf-gv89-g422",
  "modified" : "2023-11-15T18:23:21Z",
  "published" : "2023-11-09T21:30:39Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-5544" ],
  "summary" : "Moodle Cross-site Scripting vulnerability",
  "details" : "Wiki comments required additional sanitizing and access restrictions to prevent a stored XSS risk and potential IDOR risk.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Packagist",
      "name" : "moodle/moodle"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "4.3.0-rc2"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-5544"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/5fec728be9df3c9fc282cd0897c73ca5cfcfea5f"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2243443"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/moodle/moodle"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=451585"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://git.moodle.org/gw?p=moodle.git&a=search&h=HEAD&st=commit&s=MDL-79509"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-639", "CWE-79" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-11-10T00:41:02Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2023-11-09T20:15:09Z"
  }
}