CVE-2019-14881 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A security issue was discovered in Moodle version 3.7 prior to 3.7.3, involving blind XSS occurring in certain areas where user email information is shown.

Understanding CVE-2019-14881

This CVE pertains to a vulnerability found in Moodle version 3.7 before 3.7.3, leading to blind XSS reflected in specific locations displaying user email.

What is CVE-2019-14881?

CVE ID: CVE-2019-14881
CWE ID: CWE-79
CVSS Base Score: 6.1 (Medium Severity)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required

The Impact of CVE-2019-14881

This vulnerability has the following impacts:

Confidentiality Impact: Low
Integrity Impact: Low
Availability Impact: None

Technical Details of CVE-2019-14881

This section provides detailed technical information about the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability involves blind XSS reflected in areas where user email information is displayed in Moodle version 3.7.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: Moodle
Affected Version: 3.7

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by an attacker to execute malicious scripts in the context of the user's session when viewing specific email-related content.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to address and prevent the exploitation of this vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Moodle to version 3.7.3 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Educate users about phishing attacks and suspicious emails.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch Moodle installations to protect against known vulnerabilities.
Implement security best practices for web applications to prevent XSS attacks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates for Moodle and promptly apply patches to secure the system.