📄 Description (English)
PolarLearn is a free and open-source learning program. In 0-PRERELEASE-15 and earlier, the OAuth 2.0 implementation for GitHub and Google login providers is vulnerable to Login Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF). The application fails to implement and verify the state parameter during the authentication flow. This allows an attacker to pre-authenticate a session and trick a victim into logging into the attacker's account. Any data the victim then enters or academic progress they make is stored on the attacker's account, leading to data loss for the victim and information disclosure to the attacker.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
PolarLearn versions 0-PRERELEASE-15 and earlier contain a critical OAuth 2.0 CSRF vulnerability affecting GitHub and Google login flows. The missing state parameter validation allows attackers to perform login CSRF attacks, forcing victims to authenticate into attacker-controlled accounts and exposing sensitive academic data. With exploit availability and widespread use in educational institutions, immediate patching is essential to prevent unauthorized account takeover and data theft.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: Apr 26, 2026 09:01
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
Saudi educational institutions (universities, technical colleges, and K-12 schools) using PolarLearn face significant risk of student data compromise and account takeover. The Ministry of Education (MOE), ARAMCO's training programs, and private educational platforms are particularly vulnerable. Banking and financial services sectors using similar OAuth implementations should audit their authentication flows. Government agencies managing citizen data through educational portals are at elevated risk for data exfiltration and privacy violations under PDPL requirements.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Education (Ministry of Education, Universities, Technical Colleges)
Government (Educational portals, citizen data systems)
Healthcare (Medical education platforms, training systems)
Energy (ARAMCO training and development platforms)
Telecom (STC employee training systems)
Banking (Employee training and development platforms)
Private Sector (Corporate learning management systems)
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
T1187 - Forced Authentication: OAuth CSRF forces victim authentication into attacker account
T1056 - Input Capture: Attacker captures victim's academic data and progress
T1539 - Steal Web Session Cookie: State parameter bypass enables session hijacking
T1598 - Phishing: Attacker sends malicious OAuth callback links to victims
T1040 - Network Sniffing: Unvalidated state parameter allows interception attacks
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
8.4
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Identify all PolarLearn instances in your organization and document version numbers
2. Disable OAuth 2.0 GitHub/Google login temporarily if possible; use alternative authentication methods
3. Audit access logs for suspicious login patterns or account takeovers from 2024 onwards
4. Notify users of potential account compromise and recommend password changes
PATCHING:
1. Update PolarLearn to version 0-PRERELEASE-16 or later immediately
2. Verify state parameter is properly generated (cryptographically random, unique per session) and validated on callback
3. Implement PKCE (Proof Key for Code Exchange) as additional OAuth security layer
4. Test OAuth flow with automated security scanners before production deployment
COMPENSATING CONTROLS (if patching delayed):
1. Implement WAF rules to detect and block suspicious OAuth callback patterns
2. Enable MFA/2FA for all user accounts, especially administrative accounts
3. Monitor for unusual login locations and device fingerprints
4. Implement session binding to prevent session fixation attacks
5. Log all OAuth authentication attempts with full request/response details
DETECTION RULES:
1. Alert on OAuth state parameter mismatch or missing state validation
2. Monitor for multiple failed OAuth attempts from same IP targeting different users
3. Detect login followed immediately by data modification from new device/location
4. Flag OAuth callbacks with invalid or reused state parameters
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. حدد جميع نسخ PolarLearn في مؤسستك وقم بتوثيق أرقام الإصدارات
2. عطّل تسجيل الدخول عبر OAuth 2.0 GitHub/Google مؤقتًا إن أمكن؛ استخدم طرق مصادقة بديلة
3. قم بتدقيق سجلات الوصول للبحث عن أنماط تسجيل دخول مريبة أو استيلاء على الحسابات من 2024 فما بعده
4. أخطر المستخدمين بإمكانية اختراق حسابهم وأوصهم بتغيير كلمات المرور
التصحيح:
1. قم بتحديث PolarLearn إلى الإصدار 0-PRERELEASE-16 أو أحدث فورًا
2. تحقق من أن معامل الحالة يتم إنشاؤه بشكل عشوائي تشفيري وفريد لكل جلسة والتحقق منه عند الاستدعاء
3. قم بتنفيذ PKCE (إثبات المفتاح لتبادل الرمز) كطبقة أمان OAuth إضافية
4. اختبر تدفق OAuth باستخدام ماسحات الأمان الآلية قبل نشر الإنتاج
الضوابط البديلة (إذا تأخر التصحيح):
1. قم بتنفيذ قواعد WAF للكشف عن أنماط استدعاء OAuth المريبة وحظرها
2. قم بتفعيل MFA/2FA لجميع حسابات المستخدمين، خاصة حسابات المسؤولين
3. راقب مواقع تسجيل الدخول غير العادية وبصمات الأجهزة
4. قم بتنفيذ ربط الجلسة لمنع هجمات تثبيت الجلسة
5. سجل جميع محاولات المصادقة عبر OAuth مع تفاصيل الطلب/الاستجابة الكاملة
قواعد الكشف:
1. تنبيه عند عدم تطابق معامل حالة OAuth أو عدم وجود التحقق من الحالة
2. راقب محاولات OAuth المتعددة الفاشلة من نفس IP تستهدف مستخدمين مختلفين
3. اكتشف تسجيل الدخول متبوعًا فورًا بتعديل البيانات من جهاز/موقع جديد
4. علّم استدعاءات OAuth برموز حالة غير صالحة أو معاد استخدامها
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
5.1.1 - Authentication and Access Control: OAuth state parameter validation required
5.1.2 - Session Management: State parameter prevents session fixation attacks
5.2.1 - Cryptographic Controls: State parameter must be cryptographically random
5.3.1 - Logging and Monitoring: OAuth authentication attempts must be logged
🔵 SAMA CSF
ID.AM-2: Account and Access Management - OAuth implementation must prevent unauthorized access
PR.AC-1: Access Control Policy - State parameter validation is mandatory control
DE.CM-1: Detection and Analysis - Monitor OAuth flows for CSRF attacks
RS.MI-2: Incident Response - Audit for account takeover incidents
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
A.5.1.1 - Information Security Policies: OAuth security requirements must be defined
A.6.2.1 - User Registration and Access Rights: Authentication controls must prevent CSRF
A.8.2.1 - User Access Management: State parameter validation prevents unauthorized access
A.12.4.1 - Event Logging: OAuth authentication events must be logged and monitored
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0.1
Requirement 6.5.10 - Broken Authentication: OAuth CSRF vulnerability violates authentication security
Requirement 8.2.1 - User Identification: State parameter required for secure authentication
Requirement 10.2.1 - Logging: All authentication attempts must be logged
📦 Affected Products / CPE 1 entries
polarlearn:polarlearn:-