CVE-2025-26533
📋 TL;DR
This SQL injection vulnerability in Moodle's course search module filter allows attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the database. It affects Moodle installations with the vulnerable module enabled, potentially exposing sensitive user data, course information, and system configuration.
💻 Affected Systems
- Moodle
📦 What is this software?
Moodle by Moodle
Moodle by Moodle
Moodle by Moodle
Moodle by Moodle
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete database compromise leading to data theft, data manipulation, privilege escalation, and potential remote code execution if database functions allow it.
Likely Case
Extraction of sensitive user information (passwords, personal data), course content theft, and potential authentication bypass.
If Mitigated
Limited information disclosure from database tables accessible to the application user account.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires understanding of Moodle's course search functionality and SQL injection techniques. No public exploit code identified in references.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Version containing commit MDL-84271
Vendor Advisory: https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=466150
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Update Moodle to the latest stable version. 2. Apply the specific patch from commit MDL-84271 if available. 3. Verify the course search module filter functionality has been patched.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Course Search Module
allTemporarily disable the vulnerable course search module to prevent exploitation
Navigate to Site administration > Plugins > Activity modules > Manage activities > Disable 'Course search'
Web Application Firewall Rules
allImplement WAF rules to block SQL injection patterns in course search requests
Add rules to detect and block SQL keywords in course search parameters
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict input validation on all course search parameters
- Apply principle of least privilege to database user account
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if your Moodle version includes the vulnerable code by examining the course search module filter functionality or checking for commit MDL-84271 in your codebase.Check Version:
Navigate to Site administration > Notifications in Moodle admin panel to check versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify the patch has been applied by checking that the course search module filter properly sanitizes input parameters and no longer allows SQL injection.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual SQL queries in database logs
- Multiple failed login attempts following course search activity
- Unexpected database errors in application logs
Network Indicators:
- Unusual patterns in course search API requests
- Requests containing SQL keywords in parameters
SIEM Query:
source="moodle_logs" AND ("SQL syntax" OR "database error" OR "course search" AND (SELECT OR UNION OR INSERT))