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Moodle CVE-2023-5539

HIGH
Code Injection (CWE-94)
2023-11-09 patrick@puiterwijk.org
8.8
CVSS 3.1 · NVD
View

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A05:2025 - Injection
ASVS 5.0
V1 - Encoding and Sanitization Code injection prevention, sandbox exec
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Execution, Initial Access

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Impact

CVSS score of 8.8 (HIGH). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction not required.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A remote attacker could inject and execute arbitrary code within the application by sending crafted requests to the affected application.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 1.9% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

A remote code execution risk was identified in the Lesson activity. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. This Code Injection vulnerability could allow attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code within the application.

RemediationAI

A vendor patch is available. Apply the latest security update as soon as possible. Never evaluate user-controlled input as code. Use sandboxing, disable dangerous functions, apply strict input validation.

Affected Packages

composer moodle/moodle fix: 4.3.0-rc2

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 1 package in composer

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified as Code Injection (CWE-94), which allows attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code within the application. A remote code execution risk was identified in the Lesson activity. By default this was only available to teachers and managers. Affected products include: Moodle, Fedoraproject Extra Packages For Enterprise Linux, Fedoraproject Fedora.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 8.8 HIGH
AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

DescriptionNVD

A remote code execution risk was identified in the Lesson activity. By default this was only available to teachers and managers.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
1.9%
Top 23% exploitable
Data Quality
2 sources
Confidence: Low

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 1.9%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation· derived
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact· derived
Medium

Priority Score

46
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +2
CVSS: +44
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Code Injection CRITICAL

Code injection occurs when an application accepts user input and passes it directly into a language interpreter or evaluator without proper sanitization.

Remote Code Execution represents the critical moment when an attacker successfully runs arbitrary code on a target system without physical access.

Affected Products (CPE)NVD

cpe:2.3:a:moodle:moodle:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:moodle:moodle:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:moodle:moodle:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:moodle:moodle:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:moodle:moodle:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:fedoraproject:extra_packages_for_enterprise_linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:38:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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