CVE-2019-14828 : Security Advisory and Response

A security issue has been discovered in Moodle versions 3.7 to 3.7.1, 3.6 to 3.6.5, 3.5 to 3.5.7, and previous versions that are no longer supported. This vulnerability allows users who have the ability to create courses to be designated as teachers in those courses, irrespective of their eligibility for automatic assignment to that role.

Understanding CVE-2019-14828

This CVE identifies a security vulnerability in Moodle versions that could lead to unauthorized users being assigned as teachers in courses.

What is CVE-2019-14828?

CVE-2019-14828 is a security issue in Moodle versions 3.7 to 3.7.1, 3.6 to 3.6.5, 3.5 to 3.5.7, and unsupported versions, allowing unauthorized users to be designated as teachers.

The Impact of CVE-2019-14828

This vulnerability could result in unauthorized individuals gaining access to teacher privileges within courses, potentially compromising the integrity and security of the educational platform.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-14828

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Moodle versions allows users with course creation privileges to be assigned as teachers, bypassing the eligibility criteria for the role.

Affected Systems and Versions

Moodle versions 3.7 to 3.7.1
Moodle versions 3.6 to 3.6.5
Moodle versions 3.5 to 3.5.7
Earlier unsupported versions

Exploitation Mechanism

Unauthorized users with course creation permissions can exploit this vulnerability to gain teacher access within courses.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade Moodle to a patched version that addresses the vulnerability.
Limit user privileges to reduce the risk of unauthorized access.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and audit user roles and permissions within Moodle.
Educate users on best practices for maintaining secure access controls.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches and updates provided by Moodle to fix the vulnerability and enhance platform security.