CVE-2019-10189 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A vulnerability has been discovered in Moodle versions earlier than 3.7.1, 3.6.5, and 3.5.7, allowing instructors to alter group overrides within an assignment group.

Understanding CVE-2019-10189

This CVE identifies a security flaw in Moodle versions prior to 3.7.1, 3.6.5, and 3.5.7 that could be exploited by instructors to manipulate group overrides in the same assignment.

What is CVE-2019-10189?

CVE-2019-10189 is a vulnerability in Moodle that enables instructors to modify group overrides for other groups within the same assignment group.

The Impact of CVE-2019-10189

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 4.0, with a medium severity rating. It allows instructors to make unauthorized changes to group overrides, potentially compromising the integrity of the assignment.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-10189

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Moodle versions prior to 3.7.1, 3.6.5, and 3.5.7 allows instructors to alter group overrides within an assignment group, impacting the fairness and integrity of the grading process.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Moodle
Vendor: The Moodle Project
Affected Versions: 3.7.1, 3.6.5, 3.5.7

Exploitation Mechanism

Instructors with access to the affected versions of Moodle can exploit this vulnerability by manipulating group overrides within an assignment group, potentially leading to unauthorized grade changes.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-10189 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Moodle to version 3.7.1 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
Educate instructors about the importance of not altering group overrides without proper authorization.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and audit instructor activities within Moodle to detect any unauthorized changes.
Implement role-based access control to restrict the ability to modify group overrides.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by Moodle Project to address the vulnerability and enhance system security.