CVE-2020-25703 : Security Advisory and Response

A vulnerability in Moodle versions 3.7 to 3.9.2 allowed user emails to be included in the participants table download, even when hidden. This issue was addressed in versions 3.9.3, 3.8.6, 3.7.9, and 3.10.

Understanding CVE-2020-25703

This CVE entry pertains to a security flaw in Moodle that could lead to the exposure of user emails in the participants table download.

What is CVE-2020-25703?

The vulnerability in Moodle versions 3.7 to 3.9.2 resulted in user emails being included in the participants table download, contrary to the intended behavior of only displaying non-hidden emails. The issue was resolved in versions 3.9.3, 3.8.6, 3.7.9, and 3.10.

The Impact of CVE-2020-25703

The vulnerability could potentially lead to the exposure of user emails, compromising user privacy and confidentiality within the Moodle platform.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-25703

This section provides detailed technical information about the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw allowed user emails to be included in the participants table download, even when hidden, in Moodle versions 3.7 to 3.9.2.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Versions: 3.7 to 3.9.2
Fixed Versions: 3.9.3, 3.8.6, 3.7.9, and 3.10

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability could be exploited by accessing the participants table download feature in affected Moodle versions, leading to the unintended disclosure of user emails.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your system from CVE-2020-25703 with the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade Moodle to the fixed versions: 3.9.3, 3.8.6, 3.7.9, or 3.10
Educate users to avoid downloading the participants table if emails should remain hidden

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update Moodle to the latest versions to address security vulnerabilities
Implement user privacy policies and educate users on data protection

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by Moodle to ensure ongoing security of the platform