CVE-2024-25979

What it actually does

The forum search endpoint accepts arbitrary URL parameters instead of restricting to a defined allowlist, enabling limited unauthorized data exposure via crafted requests.

Why it matters to the business

Educational platforms may leak small amounts of non-sensitive information through search features, increasing minor privacy and compliance risks across many installations.

How an attack unfolds

An attacker sends network requests to the forum search URL while appending unexpected parameters and inspects responses for any additional data returned due to missing validation.

How to fix it

Upgrade Moodle to a version containing commit 8a38a37f1ff5075c6f46d726c1457172c2fccac3 which enforces parameter allowlisting on forum search.

How to confirm the fix worked

Confirm the commit is present in the deployed codebase or test that forum search requests with extraneous parameters no longer alter response content.

Typical attack path

1. Identify a Moodle instance with forum search enabled
2. Craft requests to the search endpoint containing extra URL parameters
3. Observe any differences in returned data compared to normal usage
4. Repeat with varied parameters to map unintended information disclosure

How to detect it

Examine web server and application logs for forum search requests containing unexpected or non-standard URL parameters that deviate from documented behavior.

What your security team should do

• Apply the fixed commit or equivalent patched release to all Moodle instances
• Review forum search access logs for anomalous parameter usage
• Monitor EPSS and KEV updates for any future increase in exploit activity