Moodle Patches SQLi and Security Bypass Flaws
CERT-FR advisory details SQL injection and security policy bypass vulnerabilities affecting multiple Moodle LMS versions; patches available.
CERT-FR issued an advisory covering multiple vulnerabilities in Moodle, a widely used open-source learning management system deployed by educational institutions worldwide. The flaws allow an attacker to perform SQL injection (SQLi) and to bypass security policy controls. Affected versions include Moodle 5.0.x prior to 5.0.10, 5.1.x prior to 5.1.7, 5.2.x prior to 5.2.3, and all versions prior to 4.5.14.
No evidence of in-the-wild exploitation is mentioned in the advisory. CERT-FR directs administrators to the official Moodle security bulletins (forum posts 482607 and 482608, published 22 September 2026) for full technical details and patches. Defenders running Moodle should prioritize upgrading to the fixed versions (5.0.10, 5.1.7, 5.2.3, or 4.5.14+) and review database query logs for anomalous input patterns consistent with SQLi attempts as an interim mitigation while patching is scheduled.
Given Moodle's prevalence in the education sector, timely patching is recommended to prevent potential data exposure or unauthorized access resulting from SQL injection or security bypass exploitation.
Detection guidance
Moodle SQLi Exploitation via Malformed Query Parameters
Detects SQL injection payloads in HTTP requests to Moodle endpoints, identifying common SQLi syntax patterns (UNION, OR 1=1, comment markers) in query strings or POST bodies targeting Moodle application paths. Auto-generated starting point — validate and tune in your environment before deploying. IOC matches can false-positive on shared infrastructure and decay as adversary infrastructure rotates.
title: Moodle SQLi Exploitation via Malformed Query Parameters
description: Detects HTTP requests to Moodle containing SQL injection patterns in
query parameters or request bodies - typical exploitation of T1190 public-facing
application vulnerabilities. Matches UNION SELECT, boolean-based OR injection, and
SQL comment syntax.
tags:
- attack.initial-access
- attack.t1190
logsource:
category: proxy
product: http
detection:
selection:
DestinationHostname|contains: moodle
HttpMethod:
- GET
- POST
Url|contains:
- /search
- /course
- /user
- /grade
- /mod/
sqli_pattern:
HttpRequest|contains:
- UNION
- ' OR 1=1'
- ; DROP
- /*
- --
- xp_
- exec(
condition: selection and sqli_pattern
falsepositives:
- Security scanning tools (Nessus, Qualys) performing authorized SQLi testing
- Web application firewalls logging normalized/sanitized payloads for monitoring
level: high
id: 0cddf7ec-25ba-5dd2-8a80-748f5ce87fe9
status: experimental
author: Vorant
Moodle Security Policy Bypass via Privilege Escalation Parameters
Detects anomalous authentication or authorization requests to Moodle admin/role-assignment endpoints with suspicious parameter manipulation (role_id, user_id, context_id) potentially bypassing access controls. Auto-generated starting point — validate and tune in your environment before deploying. IOC matches can false-positive on shared infrastructure and decay as adversary infrastructure rotates.
title: Moodle Security Policy Bypass via Privilege Escalation Parameters
description: Detects HTTP requests to Moodle role assignment or admin endpoints containing
anomalous parameter values or enumeration patterns consistent with authorization
bypass exploitation. Targets context, role, and user ID manipulation in administrative
URLs.
tags:
- attack.initial-access
- attack.t1190
logsource:
category: proxy
product: http
detection:
selection:
DestinationHostname|contains: moodle
HttpMethod:
- GET
- POST
Url|contains:
- /admin/
- /role/
- /user/profile.php
- /enrol/
bypass_attempt:
HttpRequest|contains:
- role_id=
- user_id=
- context_id=
enumeration_pattern:
HttpRequest|contains:
- role_id=-1
- role_id=0
- user_id=1&
- context_id=
condition: selection and bypass_attempt and enumeration_pattern
falsepositives:
- Moodle administrators performing legitimate role assignments in bulk
- Learning management system synchronization tools updating user roles
level: medium
id: 14e6ed45-bec8-544b-9db7-c7f014dd03e5
status: experimental
author: Vorant
Moodle Vulnerable Version Detection via HTTP Headers
Detects HTTP responses from Moodle instances revealing vulnerable version numbers (5.0.x < 5.0.10, 5.1.x < 5.1.7, 5.2.x < 5.2.3, or < 4.5.14) in Set-Cookie, Server headers, or HTML content - enabling attacker reconnaissance. Auto-generated starting point — validate and tune in your environment before deploying. IOC matches can false-positive on shared infrastructure and decay as adversary infrastructure rotates.
title: Moodle Vulnerable Version Detection via HTTP Headers
description: Detects HTTP responses from Moodle web applications exposing vulnerable
version identifiers in headers or response body, allowing reconnaissance of exploitable
instances prior to T1190 public-facing application attacks.
tags:
- attack.reconnaissance
- attack.t1190
logsource:
category: proxy
product: http
detection:
selection:
DestinationHostname|contains: moodle
HttpResponseCode: 200
version_exposure:
HttpResponse|contains:
- Moodle 5.0.
- Moodle 5.1.
- Moodle 5.2.
- Moodle 4.5.
- version=5.0.
- version=5.1.
- version=5.2.
- version=4.5.
vulnerable_pattern:
HttpResponse|re: Moodle\s+(5\.0\.[0-9]|5\.1\.[0-6]|5\.2\.[0-2]|4\.5\.[0-9]|4\.[0-4]\.)
condition: selection and version_exposure and vulnerable_pattern
falsepositives:
- Automated vulnerability scanning tools performing version enumeration
- Legitimate Moodle plugin or theme detection requests
level: low
id: 91562090-d663-59d2-8dfe-4a8fa26fff96
status: experimental
author: Vorant
Behavioural rules are generated from public reporting — validate in your environment before deploying.
Source reporting: https://www.cert.ssi.gouv.fr/avis/CERTFR-2026-AVI-1210
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