CVE-2021-32473 : Security Advisory and Response

A vulnerability has been identified in Moodle versions 3.10 to 3.10.3, 3.9 to 3.9.6, 3.8 to 3.8.8, and 3.5 to 3.5.17 that allows students to view their quiz grades before release.

Understanding CVE-2021-32473

This CVE affects Moodle, an open-source learning platform widely used in educational environments.

What is CVE-2021-32473?

The vulnerability in Moodle versions 3.5 to 3.10.3 allows students to access their quiz grades prematurely through a quiz web service.

The Impact of CVE-2021-32473

This security flaw potentially compromises the confidentiality of quiz results and may affect the integrity of academic assessments.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-32473

The following technical aspects of the vulnerability are crucial to understand:

Vulnerability Description

Students can exploit the vulnerability to view quiz grades before they are officially released, raising privacy concerns.

Affected Systems and Versions

Moodle versions 3.10 to 3.10.3, 3.9 to 3.9.6, 3.8 to 3.8.8, and 3.5 to 3.5.17 are confirmed to be affected by this security issue.

Exploitation Mechanism

By leveraging a quiz web service, students can bypass restrictions and gain unauthorized access to their quiz grades.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2021-32473, consider the following preventive measures:

Immediate Steps to Take

Instructors should review and adjust quiz settings to prevent premature grade access. Users are encouraged to update Moodle to the latest patched version.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and audit quiz activities to detect potential unauthorized access or misuse of grade information.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security patches and updates provided by Moodle to mitigate known vulnerabilities and enhance platform security.