CVE-2019-3849 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A vulnerability in Moodle versions 3.6.3, 3.5.5, and 3.4.8 allows users to elevate their authority in courses or content accessed via LTI.

Understanding CVE-2019-3849

An issue in Moodle versions 3.6.3, 3.5.5, and 3.4.8 enables users to assign themselves higher privileges in LTI accessed content.

What is CVE-2019-3849?

This CVE identifies a security flaw in Moodle that permits users to increase their level of authority within courses or content accessed via LTI by manipulating the request sent to the LTI publisher site.

The Impact of CVE-2019-3849

The vulnerability poses a medium severity risk with a CVSS base score of 6.3. It allows unauthorized users to gain escalated privileges within Moodle courses, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of the content.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-3849

The technical aspects of the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

Users can exploit Moodle versions 3.6.3, 3.5.5, and 3.4.8 to assign themselves higher roles in LTI accessed content by altering the request to the LTI publisher site.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: Moodle
Affected Versions: 3.6.3, 3.5.5, 3.4.8

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Complexity: Low
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: None
Scope: Unchanged

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-3849.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Moodle to version 3.6.3 or higher to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor user activities for suspicious behavior within courses and content accessed via LTI.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and adjust user roles and permissions in Moodle to prevent unauthorized access.
Educate users on secure practices when interacting with LTI content.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches and updates provided by Moodle to address known vulnerabilities.