CVE-2025-26525Network attack vector

Arbitrary file read via executable denylisted commands

Published Feb 24, 2025 · Updated Feb 24, 2025

Arbitrary file read in affected Moodle LMS releases allows remote attackers to read server files through crafted TeX notation. The filter_tex_sanitize_formula function prefixes denied commands but preserves their backslashes, leaving pdfTeX's file-dump command executable. Exploitation requires the TeX notation filter and server-side pdfTeX, and it exposes files readable by the web-service account.

CVSS severity8.6
High
EPSS probability0.43%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Arbitrary file read in affected Moodle LMS releases allows remote attackers to read server files through crafted TeX notation. The filter_tex_sanitize_formula function prefixes denied commands but preserves their backslashes, leaving pdfTeX's file-dump command executable. Exploitation requires the TeX notation filter and server-side pdfTeX, and it exposes files readable by the web-service account.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-26525
Published
Feb 24, 2025
Updated
Feb 24, 2025
Vendor
Moodle
Product
Moodle LMS
Classifications
CWE-552, T1190, T1005
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 24, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 24, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=4.1.0 <4.1.16
  2. Affected versionversion=4.3.0 <4.3.10
  3. Affected versionversion=4.4.0 <4.4.6
  4. Affected versionversion=4.5.0 <4.5.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Moodle · Moodle LMSversion=4.1.0 <4.1.16; version=4.3.0 <4.3.10; version=4.4.0 <4.4.6; version=4.5.0 <4.5.2

Published CVSS scores

8.6Fedora ProjectCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N

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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-552Files or Directories Accessible to External Parties
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application
T1005Data from Local System

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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