CVE-2026-119553
Received Received - Intake

Path Traversal in Moodle via Blackboard Import

Publication date: 2026-10-30

Last updated on: 2026-10-30

Assigner: VulnCheck

Description
Moodle 5.3.0, 5.2.0 through 5.2.4, 5.1.0 through 5.1.8, 5.0.0 through 5.0.11, and through 4.5.15 contains a path traversal vulnerability in the Blackboard question import format. Teachers with question import or lesson edit rights can upload a crafted zip with img src values containing ../ sequences, copying server files like config.php into their draft area.

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Meta Information

Published
2026-10-30
Last Modified
2026-10-30
Generated
2026-10-30
AI Q&A
2026-10-30
EPSS Evaluated
N/A
NVD
CVE-2026-119553
EUVD
EUVD-2026-113818

Affected Vendors & Products

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Exploitability

CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-23 The product uses external input to construct a pathname that should be within a restricted directory, but it does not properly neutralize sequences such as ".." that can resolve to a location that is outside of that directory.

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Executive Summary

CVE-2026-119553 is a path traversal vulnerability in Moodle versions up to 5.3.0, 5.2.4, 5.1.8, 5.0.11, and 4.5.15. It affects the Blackboard question import feature, allowing teachers with import or edit rights to upload a malicious zip file containing image tags with '../' sequences in the src attribute. This can copy sensitive server files like config.php into their draft area.

Detection Guidance

Check Moodle logs for suspicious Blackboard question imports containing ../ sequences in img src attributes. Review draft file areas for unexpected files like config.php. Use file integrity monitoring tools to detect unauthorized file modifications in Moodle directories.

Impact Analysis

An attacker with teacher-level access could read sensitive files on the server, such as configuration files containing database credentials or API keys. This could lead to further compromise of the Moodle instance or the underlying system, though it does not directly allow remote code execution or privilege escalation.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, violating GDPR's data protection principles or HIPAA's security requirements for protected health information. Organizations using affected Moodle versions may face compliance violations, potential fines, and reputational damage if exploited.

Mitigation Strategies

Upgrade Moodle to the latest patched version immediately. Disable Blackboard question import functionality if not required. Restrict teacher permissions to only necessary roles. Monitor draft file areas for unauthorized file copies.

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