CVE-2019-14883 : Security Advisory and Response
Discover the security weakness in Moodle versions 3.6 and 3.7 with CVE-2019-14883. Learn about the impact, affected systems, exploitation mechanism, and mitigation steps.
A security weakness has been discovered in Moodle versions 3.6 prior to 3.6.7 and 3.7 prior to 3.7.3. The vulnerability allows access to inline attachments in email notifications even after a user's account becomes inactive.
Understanding CVE-2019-14883
This CVE identifies a vulnerability in Moodle versions 3.6 and 3.7 that could potentially compromise user data security.
What is CVE-2019-14883?
This CVE pertains to a flaw in Moodle versions 3.6 and 3.7 that fails to deactivate tokens for retrieving inline attachments in email notifications when a user's account is deactivated. This oversight could lead to unauthorized access to files.
The Impact of CVE-2019-14883
The vulnerability poses a low severity risk with a CVSS base score of 3.7. If exploited, it could result in unauthorized access to files by users with knowledge of the file path and token.
Technical Details of CVE-2019-14883
This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The tokens used to retrieve inline attachments in email notifications remain active even after a user's account is deactivated in Moodle versions 3.6 and 3.7.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Affected Product: Moodle
- Affected Versions: 3.6.7, 3.7.3
Exploitation Mechanism
To exploit this vulnerability, a user would need knowledge of the file path along with their token to access the files.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from CVE-2019-14883 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Upgrade Moodle to versions 3.6.7 or 3.7.3 to mitigate the vulnerability.
- Monitor user accounts for suspicious activity.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update Moodle to the latest versions to patch security vulnerabilities.
- Educate users on secure file access practices.
- Implement multi-factor authentication for enhanced security.
- Conduct regular security audits to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
Apply patches and updates provided by Moodle to ensure the security of the system.