CVE-2020-14321 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability in Moodle versions prior to 3.9.1, 3.8.4, 3.7.7, and 3.5.13 allowed teachers to assign themselves the manager role within a course.

Understanding CVE-2020-14321

In Moodle versions before specified updates, a flaw enabled course teachers to elevate their privileges to the manager role.

What is CVE-2020-14321?

The vulnerability in Moodle versions allowed course teachers to grant themselves the manager role, potentially leading to unauthorized access and control within the course.

The Impact of CVE-2020-14321

This vulnerability could result in unauthorized access to course materials, student data, and administrative functions, compromising the integrity and confidentiality of the educational platform.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-14321

Vulnerability Description

Teachers in affected Moodle versions could exploit the flaw to assign themselves the manager role, gaining unauthorized access and control.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: n/a
Product: Moodle
Vulnerable Versions: Moodle 3.9, 3.8 to 3.8.3, 3.7 to 3.7.6, 3.5 to 3.5.12, and earlier unsupported versions

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability allowed teachers to manipulate their roles within a course, granting themselves elevated privileges beyond their intended permissions.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade Moodle to version 3.9.1, 3.8.4, 3.7.7, or 3.5.13 to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor course roles and permissions to detect any unauthorized changes.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update user roles and permissions within Moodle.
Educate users on the importance of maintaining secure access controls.

Patching and Updates

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