A reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability (CVE-2022-45150) has been discovered in Moodle, the popular open-source learning platform that assists educators in creating effective online learning environments. The vulnerability exists within the policy tool and is caused by insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data. This flaw could potentially allow an attacker to perform XSS attacks, gain access to sensitive information, and modify web pages.
Background
Moodle is a widely used learning management system (LMS) that is designed to help educators manage and share educational content with their students. With its extensive set of features and customizability, Moodle is particularly popular among educational institutions and organizations.
Unfortunately, the recently discovered vulnerability (CVE-2022-45150) means that Moodle's users and their sensitive data might be at risk. The flaw centers on Moodle's policy tool, which is used to establish and manage policies regarding the use of the platform. By exploiting the vulnerability, an attacker can trick the victim into clicking on a specially crafted link that executes arbitrary HTML and script code in the user's browser in the context of the vulnerable website.
Vulnerability Details and Exploit
This reflected XSS vulnerability is caused by insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data within the policy tool. When a user clicks on the malicious link crafted by the attacker, the arbitrary code contained within the link is executed within the user's browser.
Here's an example of a code snippet that demonstrates this vulnerability
<a href="https://vulnerable-moodle-site.com/admin/tool/policy/index.php?contextid=1&search=%22%3E%3Cscript%3Ealert%281%29%3C%2Fscript%3E">Click me</a>
In this example, when a user clicks on the "Click me" link, the embedded JavaScript code (<script>alert(1)</script>) is executed within their browser, displaying an alert with the number 1. In a real-world attack scenario, the attacker could use more harmful JavaScript code to steal authentication tokens, alter the appearance of web pages, or gain access to sensitive information.
Mitigation and Recommendations
To protect against this vulnerability, it is essential to apply the appropriate patch/update provided by Moodle. Users are encouraged to visit Moodle's official website for information regarding the latest security updates.
Original References
For more information on this vulnerability, users are encouraged to review the official CVE-2022-45150 listing (http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-45150) and Moodle's security advisory (https://moodle.org/security).
Conclusion
The CVE-2022-45150 vulnerability showcases the importance of proper input validation and sanitization within web applications like Moodle. By staying informed and applying the necessary security updates, users can protect themselves and their sensitive information from potential XSS attacks.
Timeline
Published on: 11/23/2022 15:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 01/31/2023 20:12:00 UTC