A high-severity remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability (CVE-2025-3642) has been identified in Moodle’s EQUELLA repository integration, posing risks to educational institutions and enterprises using this learning management system. The flaw, rated 8.8 on the CVSS scale, allows authenticated attackers with teacher or manager privileges to execute arbitrary code on affected systems where the EQUELLA repository is enabled1. This vulnerability was publicly disclosed on April 25, 2025, with active exploitation likely given the privileged access requirements and RCE capabilities.
Technical Analysis of CVE-2025-3642
The vulnerability affects Moodle installations with the EQUELLA repository plugin enabled, a feature used by educational institutions to integrate digital content repositories. While exact technical details remain undisclosed, the risk profile aligns with historical RCE patterns in learning management systems, where improper input validation or insecure deserialization often enables code execution2. The access requirement (teacher/manager roles) limits immediate widespread exploitation but creates significant risk in environments where these accounts are compromised through credential theft or phishing.
Comparative Threat Landscape
This vulnerability follows a pattern of critical RCE flaws in enterprise systems, similar to recent discoveries in Ivanti Connect Secure (CVE-2025-22457) and Apache Tomcat (CVE-2025-24813)3. Unlike those vulnerabilities, which affected network infrastructure components, CVE-2025-3642 specifically targets educational technology systems. The 8.8 CVSS score reflects the combination of high impact (RCE) with moderate attack complexity (requiring privileged access).
Detection and Mitigation
Organizations using Moodle with EQUELLA integration should immediately:
- Check for plugin activation status in Site Administration > Plugins > Repository > EQUELLA
- Monitor for unusual activity from teacher/manager accounts, particularly file operations
- Apply patches when available through official Moodle security releases
Temporary mitigation includes disabling the EQUELLA repository if not essential for operations. System administrators should review user privilege assignments and implement role-based access controls to minimize exposure.
Relevance to Security Professionals
For security teams, this vulnerability underscores the need for:
– Enhanced monitoring of privileged accounts in educational platforms
– Regular audits of third-party plugin security
– Segmentation of learning management systems from critical infrastructure
The Moodle vulnerability shares characteristics with other high-profile RCE flaws, where authenticated access leads to system compromise. Detection strategies should focus on anomalous process creation from web server contexts and unexpected file modifications in Moodle directories.
Conclusion
CVE-2025-3642 represents a significant risk to organizations using Moodle’s EQUELLA integration, particularly in higher education environments. While the required authentication reduces some risk, the potential impact warrants immediate attention. Security teams should prioritize patch application and review privileged account activity while awaiting official fixes from the Moodle security team.
