# CVE-2009-1171: Path traversal in n/a

> An attacker can read arbitrary files on the server by exploiting a LaTeX injection vulnerability in the Moodle TeX filter.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.3 (`AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 30 Mar 2009
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DSA-1761-1, GHSA-c8pm-7v2j-xmww

## What is CVE-2009-1171?

CVE-2009-1171 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in Moodle Moodle, published on 30 Mar 2009. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

The TeX filter in Moodle 1.6 before 1.6.9+, 1.7 before 1.7.7+, 1.8 before 1.8.9, and 1.9 before 1.9.5 allows user-assisted attackers to read arbitrary files via an input command in a "$$" sequence, which causes LaTeX to include the contents of the file.

Weakness: CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2009-1171?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Moodle Moodle.

## How do I fix CVE-2009-1171?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2009-1171 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2009-1171 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Moodle < 1.6.9/1.7.7/1.8.9/1.9.5 - File Disclosure (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Moodle Moodle

- [CVE-2006-4935](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2006-4935/): File upload in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2006-4936](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2006-4936/): Moodle does not properly validate module instance id (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2004-2233](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-2233/): Unknown "front page vulnerability with Moodle servers" for Moodle before 1.3.2 has unknown impact and attack vectors. (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2004-2235](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-2235/): Cross-site scripting in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2004-2236](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-2236/): Other in n/a (critical 10.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2009-1171 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2009-1171 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in Moodle Moodle, published on 30 Mar 2009. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2009-1171 exists.

Affected product: Moodle Moodle. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-1171/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-1171/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2009-1171
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2009-1171
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2009-1171

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-1171/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.