CVE-2023-5540Network attack vector

Authenticated code execution via unsafe IMSCP unserialization

Published Nov 9, 2023 · Updated Aug 2, 2024

PHP object injection in the IMSCP activity in affected Moodle LMS releases allows remote authenticated users to execute code. The imscp_print_content and imscp_export_contents paths pass the stored package structure to unrestricted PHP unserialize, permitting object construction from crafted serialized data. Reachability requires IMSCP editing privileges, which Moodle grants by default to teachers and managers, and successful exploitation executes code in the server process.

CVSS severity4.7
Medium
EPSS probability1.93%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

PHP object injection in the IMSCP activity in affected Moodle LMS releases allows remote authenticated users to execute code. The imscp_print_content and imscp_export_contents paths pass the stored package structure to unrestricted PHP unserialize, permitting object construction from crafted serialized data. Reachability requires IMSCP editing privileges, which Moodle grants by default to teachers and managers, and successful exploitation executes code in the server process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-5540
Published
Nov 9, 2023
Updated
Aug 2, 2024
Vendor
Moodle
Product
Moodle LMS
Classifications
CWE-94, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 9, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 2, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <3.9.24
  2. Affected versionversion=3.11.0 <3.11.17
  3. Affected versionversion=4.0.0 <4.0.11
  4. Affected versionversion=4.1.0 <4.1.6
  5. Affected versionversion=4.2.0 <4.2.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Moodle · Moodle LMSversion=0 <3.9.24; version=3.11.0 <3.11.17; version=4.0.0 <4.0.11; version=4.1.0 <4.1.6; version=4.2.0 <4.2.3

Published CVSS scores

8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.7Fedora ProjectCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-94Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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