CVE-2023-5541 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE record, assigned by Fedora, highlights an XSS risk when using the CSV grade import method in Moodle.

Understanding CVE-2023-5541

The CVE-2023-5541 vulnerability pertains to the CSV grade import method in Moodle, which posed an XSS risk to users importing spreadsheets containing unsafe content.

What is CVE-2023-5541?

The vulnerability in the CSV grade import method in Moodle allowed for a cross-site scripting (XSS) risk, potentially exposing users to malicious attacks if the imported spreadsheet contained unsafe content.

The Impact of CVE-2023-5541

With a CVSS base score of 3.3 (Low severity), the impact of CVE-2023-5541 is relatively low. However, it still poses a risk to user confidentiality and data integrity, especially if the imported data is manipulated by an attacker.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-5541

This section delves into the technical aspects of the CVE-2023-5541 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The XSS risk in the CSV grade import method of Moodle could be exploited by attackers to execute malicious scripts on the user's browser, potentially leading to data theft or unauthorized actions.

Affected Systems and Versions

Moodle versions 4.2.3, 4.1.6, 4.0.11, 3.11.17, and 3.9.24 are reported as unaffected.
Fedora and Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux 7 users are affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability allows attackers to inject and execute malicious scripts within the context of the Moodle application, leveraging the import functionality to trigger XSS attacks.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-5541, immediate actions and long-term security practices are recommended.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update their Moodle instances to the latest version that includes a patch for the CVE-2023-5541 vulnerability. Additionally, exercising caution when importing CSV files with potentially unsafe content is crucial to prevent exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing secure coding practices, regularly updating software components, and conducting security assessments can help maintain a robust defense against XSS vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-5541.

Patching and Updates

Developers should prioritize applying security patches provided by Moodle and related distributions to address the XSS risk in the CSV grade import method and safeguard users from potential attacks.