# CVE-2016-8643: Moodle improper access control in web services

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2016-8643-moodle-improper-access-control-in-web-services  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2017-01-20. Updated: 2026-05-13  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2016-8643 · Severity: medium · CVSS 4.3 · Published 2017-01-20

Moodle is a popular learning management system used by schools and businesses to deliver online courses. A security flaw allows site managers, who should have limited permissions, to unintentionally modify the accounts of full site administrators through automated web services. This could lead to unauthorized changes to administrative settings or account details, potentially compromising the integrity of the platform's management.

Technologies: [Moodle](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/moodle). Vendors: [Moodle](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/moodle).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2016-8643 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2016-8643 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2016-8643?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 4.3, published 20 January 2017.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Moodle 2.x, 3.0.x before 3.0.7, 3.1.x before 3.1.3.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2016-8643?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2016-8643 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a web application.

**Am I affected by CVE-2016-8643?** Check whether you run Moodle at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

An improper access control vulnerability (CWE-284) exists in Moodle's web services layer. The flaw allows users with the 'manager' role to modify 'administrator' user accounts when using web service functions, a privilege that should be restricted to site admins only. This vulnerability is reachable over the network and requires the attacker to have at least low-level authenticated access (manager role). Exploitation could result in unauthorized modification of administrative user data. Patches were released in Moodle versions 3.1.3, 3.0.7, and 2.7.17.

## Affected products

- Moodle Moodle 2.x, 3.0.x before 3.0.7, 3.1.x before 3.1.3

## Timeline

- 2016-11-21: advisory: Vendor advisory published by Moodle
- 2017-01-20: disclosed: NVD publication date

## References

- [http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94457](http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94457)
- [https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=343276](https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=343276)

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