CVE-2017-7491 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE involves a CSRF vulnerability in Moodle versions 2.x and 3.x that allows attackers to manipulate the course overview block configuration setting.

Understanding CVE-2017-7491

This CVE identifies a security issue in Moodle versions 2.x and 3.x related to Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attacks.

What is CVE-2017-7491?

A CSRF attack in Moodle 2.x and 3.x permits malicious actors to change the configuration setting for the number of courses displayed in the course overview block.

The Impact of CVE-2017-7491

The vulnerability enables attackers to modify critical settings, potentially disrupting the course overview functionality and compromising the integrity of displayed course information.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-7491

This section delves into the specifics of the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The CSRF vulnerability in Moodle versions 2.x and 3.x allows unauthorized users to alter the course overview block's displayed course count setting.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Moodle 2.x and 3.x
Vendor: Not applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by tricking authenticated users into visiting a malicious website that performs unauthorized actions on the Moodle platform.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2017-7491 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by Moodle to address the CSRF vulnerability.
Educate users about the risks of clicking on untrusted links to prevent CSRF attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update Moodle to the latest version to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
Implement security measures such as CSRF tokens to prevent CSRF attacks.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security patches released by Moodle to fix the CSRF vulnerability and enhance system security.