CVE-2023-28336 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This is a published CVE identified as CVE-2023-28336 by the organization "fedora" on March 23, 2023. The vulnerability involves insufficient filtering of grade report history in Moodle, allowing teachers to access the names of users they should not be able to access.

Understanding CVE-2023-28336

This CVE highlights a security issue in Moodle that could lead to unauthorized access to user names by teachers.

What is CVE-2023-28336?

The CVE-2023-28336 vulnerability arises from a lack of proper filtering in the grade report history of Moodle. This flaw enables teachers to view the names of users they are not authorized to access.

The Impact of CVE-2023-28336

The impact of this vulnerability is significant as it compromises the privacy and security of user data within the Moodle platform. Unauthorized access to user names can lead to breaches of confidentiality and misuse of sensitive information.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-28336

This section delves into the specific technical aspects of the CVE-2023-28336 vulnerability in Moodle.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability is due to insufficient filtering mechanisms implemented in the grade report history feature of Moodle. This allows teachers to bypass access restrictions and view user names they should not have permission to see.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected product in this CVE is Moodle, with the following versions being impacted:

4.1 to 4.1.1
4.0 to 4.0.6
3.11 to 3.11.12
3.9 to 3.9.19
Earlier unsupported versions

Exploitation Mechanism

Teachers can exploit this vulnerability by leveraging the lack of proper filtering in the grade report history to access user names that are restricted from their view.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-28336 and implement long-term security practices to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Immediate Steps to Take

Organizations using Moodle should update to the latest patched versions to address the vulnerability.
Restrict access to the grade report history feature to authorized personnel only.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regular security assessments and audits of educational platforms like Moodle to identify and address vulnerabilities promptly.
Provide ongoing security training to teachers and staff to raise awareness of data privacy and security protocols.

Patching and Updates

Users of Moodle are advised to apply patches and updates released by the platform to address the specific vulnerability outlined in CVE-2023-28336. Regularly updating software can help enhance security and protect user data from potential threats.