CVE-2016-2159
Moodle External function mod_assign_save_submission does not check due dates
CVE-2016-2159 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 4.3) in Moodle, published March 25, 2016. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 1.43%, the 73rd percentile. Fixed in moodle/moodle 2.7.13.
The save_submission function in mod/assign/externallib.php in Moodle through 2.6.11, 2.7.x before 2.7.13, 2.8.x before 2.8.11, 2.9.x before 2.9.5, and 3.0.x before 3.0.3 allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended due-date restrictions by leveraging the student role for a web-service request.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- None
- Integrity
- Low
- Availability
- None
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
NVD Score used
4.3
The save_submission function in mod/assign/externallib.php in Moodle through 2.6.11, 2.7.x before 2.7.13, 2.8.x before 2.8.11, 2.9.x before 2.9.5, and 3.0.x before 3.0.3 allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended due-date restrictions by leveraging the student role for a web-service request.
- Record
CVE-2016-2159- CVSS 3.0
- 4.3 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N - CVSS 2.0
- 4.0 Medium
AV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:N/I:P/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-284
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE List No score
The save_submission function in mod/assign/externallib.php in Moodle through 2.6.11, 2.7.x before 2.7.13, 2.8.x before 2.8.11, 2.9.x before 2.9.5, and 3.0.x before 3.0.3 allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended due-date restrictions by leveraging the student role for a web-service request.
- Record
CVE-2016-2159- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2022-3644 No score
The save_submission function in mod/assign/externallib.php in Moodle through 2.6.11, 2.7.x before 2.7.13, 2.8.x before 2.8.11, 2.9.x before 2.9.5, and 3.0.x before 3.0.3 allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended due-date restrictions by leveraging the student role for a web-service request.
- Record
EUVD-2022-3644- Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-cw72-69wq-f9f2
4.3
Moodle External function mod_assign_save_submission does not check due dates
The save_submission function in mod/assign/externallib.php in Moodle through 2.6.11, 2.7.x before 2.7.13, 2.8.x before 2.8.11, 2.9.x before 2.9.5, and 3.0.x before 3.0.3 allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended due-date restrictions by leveraging the student role for a web-service request.
- Record
GHSA-cw72-69wq-f9f2- CVSS 3.0
- 4.3 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-284
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
4.3
The save_submission function in mod/assign/externallib.php in Moodle through 2.6.11, 2.7.x before 2.7.13, 2.8.x before 2.8.11, 2.9.x before 2.9.5, and 3.0.x before 3.0.3 allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended due-date restrictions by leveraging the student role for a web-service request.
- Record
CVE-2016-2159- CVSS 3.0
- 4.3 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-cw72-69wq-f9f2
4.3
Moodle External function mod_assign_save_submission does not check due dates
The save_submission function in mod/assign/externallib.php in Moodle through 2.6.11, 2.7.x before 2.7.13, 2.8.x before 2.8.11, 2.9.x before 2.9.5, and 3.0.x before 3.0.3 allows remote authenticated users to bypass intended due-date restrictions by leveraging the student role for a web-service request.
- Record
GHSA-cw72-69wq-f9f2- CVSS 3.0
- 4.3 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-284
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVMGASA-2016-0122 No score
Updated moodle packages fix security vulnerability
In Moodle before 2.8.11, teachers who otherwise were not supposed to see students' emails could see them in the participants list (CVE-2016-2151).
In Moodle before 2.8.11, Moodle traditionally trusted content from external DB, however it was decided that external datasources may not be aware of web security practices and data could cause problems after importing to Moodle (CVE-2016-2152).
In Moodle before 2.8.11, a user with higher permissions could be tricked into clicking a link which would result in Reflected XSS in mod_data advanced search (CVE-2016-2153).
In Moodle before 2.8.11, users without capability to view hidden courses but with capability to subscribe to Event Monitor rules could see the names of hidden courses (CVE-2016-2154).
In Moodle before 2.8.11, the Non-Editing Instructor role can edit the exclude checkbox in the Single View grade report (CVE-2016-2155).
In Moodle before 2.8.11, users without the capability to view hidden acitivites could still see associated calendar events via web services, via the external function get_calendar_events (CVE-2016-2156).
In Moodle before 2.8.11, CSRF is possible on the Assignment plugin admin page, however an exploit is unlikely to benefit anybody and can easily be reversed (CVE-2016-2157).
In Moodle before 2.8.11, enumeration of course category details is possible without authentication (CVE-2016-2158).
In Moodle before 2.8.11, students were able to add assignment submissions after the due date through web service, via the external function mod_assign_save_submission (CVE-2016-2159).
In Moodle before 2.8.11, when following external links that were added with the _blank target, a referer header would be added (CVE-2016-2190).
- Record
MGASA-2016-0122- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
moodle/moodlePackagist |
2.7 up to 2.7.13 | 2.7.13 |
moodle/moodlePackagist |
2.8 up to 2.8.11 | 2.8.11 |
moodle/moodlePackagist |
2.9 up to 2.9.5 | 2.9.5 |
moodle/moodlePackagist |
3.0 up to 3.0.3 | 3.0.3 |
moodle/moodlePackagist |
2.7 up to 2.7.13, plus listed versions v2.7.0v2.7.0-betav2.7.0-rc1v2.7.0-rc2v2.7.1 Show 11 moreShow lessv2.7.10v2.7.11v2.7.12v2.7.2v2.7.3v2.7.4v2.7.5v2.7.6v2.7.7v2.7.8v2.7.9 |
2.7.13 |
moodle/moodlePackagist |
2.8 up to 2.8.11, plus listed versions v2.8.0v2.8.0-betav2.8.0-rc1v2.8.0-rc2v2.8.1 Show 9 moreShow lessv2.8.10v2.8.2v2.8.3v2.8.4v2.8.5v2.8.6v2.8.7v2.8.8v2.8.9 |
2.8.11 |
moodle/moodlePackagist |
2.9 up to 2.9.5, plus listed versions v2.9.0v2.9.0-betav2.9.0-rc1v2.9.0-rc2v2.9.1v2.9.2v2.9.3v2.9.4 |
2.9.5 |
moodle/moodlePackagist |
3.0 up to 3.0.3, plus listed versions v3.0.0v3.0.0-betav3.0.0-rc1v3.0.0-rc2v3.0.0-rc3v3.0.0-rc4v3.0.1v3.0.2 |
3.0.3 |
moodleMageia:5 |
before 2.8.11-1.mga5 | 2.8.11-1.mga5 |
History
| When | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-11-03 | aliases | EUVD |
| 2026-11-02 | created | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
References
moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=330182
git.moodle.org/gw?p=moodle.git&a=search&h=HEAD&st=commit&s=MDL-52901
openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/03/21/1
securitytracker.com/id/1035333
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-2159
github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/0766509ab02353008af62f953f7ebc0f6210411a
Show 20 moreShow less
github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/3c069c16db62d0e0a64137578e92c22d604dd261
github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/711f9468d4e2792afe0f2025ac98c52ee3e4ee71
github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/dc8421575f35585a7a4fc1c9710dafd1d0483d4e
github.com/moodle/moodle/commit/ea8987644fdbbee291337263598b0c3c7bf27c36
web.archive.org/web/20160424224349/http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1035333
github.com/advisories/GHSA-cw72-69wq-f9f2
github.com/moodle/moodle
advisories.mageia.org/MGASA-2016-0122.html
bugs.mageia.org/show_bug.cgi?id=18048
moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=330173
moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=330174
moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=330175
moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=330176
moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=330177
moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=330178
moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=330179
moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=330180
moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=330181
docs.moodle.org/dev/Moodle_2.8.11_release_notes
moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=329783