# CVE-2016-9187: Moodle Unrestricted file upload vulnerability

> Authenticated attackers can execute arbitrary code by uploading malicious files with double extensions in the Moodle image module.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 4 Nov 2016
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-58fm-v4pr-jh8p, UBUNTU-CVE-2016-9187

## What is CVE-2016-9187?

CVE-2016-9187 is a high-severity vulnerability in Moodle Moodle, published on 4 Nov 2016. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Unrestricted file upload vulnerability in the double extension support in the "image" module in Moodle 3.1.2 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code by uploading a file with an executable extension, and then accessing it via unspecified vectors.

Weakness: CWE-434 (Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-9187?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including moodle/moodle. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `moodle/moodle` | Packagist | From 2.0.1 to 3.2.1 | None |
| `moodle/moodle` | Packagist | From 2.0.1 to 3.2.1 | None |

Products: Moodle Moodle.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-9187?

No fix has been published for CVE-2016-9187 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2016-9187 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-9187 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## 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-2016-9187 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-9187 is a high-severity vulnerability in Moodle Moodle, published on 4 Nov 2016. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-9187 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- moodle/moodle (Packagist): affected from 2.0.1 up to 3.2.1; no fix listed
- moodle/moodle (Packagist): affected from 2.0.1 up to 3.2.1; no fix listed

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-2016-9187/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-9187/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-9187
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-9187
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-9187

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-9187/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.