Totara Talent Experience Platform Release Notes

Security releases for Totara 2.9.2, 2.7.10, 2.6.27, 2.5.34, 2.4.37, and 2.2.44 released 15th December 2015

 
Sam Hemelryk
Security releases for Totara 2.9.2, 2.7.10, 2.6.27, 2.5.34, 2.4.37, and 2.2.44 released 15th December 2015
by Sam Hemelryk - Monday, 14 December 2015, 6:35 AM
Group Totara


Hello everyone,

The following versions of Totara have now been released:

  • 2.9.2
  • 2.7.10
  • 2.6.27
  • 2.5.34
  • 2.4.37
  • 2.2.44

These versions do contain security fixes and for this reason we strongly recommend upgrading.
Each release also includes bug fixes and improvements.

Thanks to the following people for their contributions to this release:

  • Artur Rietz at Webanywhere - TL-8010
  • Chris Wharton at Catalyst NZ and Haitham Gasim at Kineo USA - TL-7980
  • Haitham Gasim at Kineo USA - TL-8026
  • Jo Jones at Kineo UK - TL-7976
  • Pavel Tsakalidis at Kineo UK - TL-7975
  • Tim Price at Catalyst Australia - TL-7911

Kind regards

Sam Hemelryk

 

Release 2.9.2 (15th December 2015):

Security issues:

    TL-7957        Totara Connect now prevents reuse of ssotokens for user logins
    TL-7975        Added read/write access controls to group assignment code throughout Totara
    TL-8076        Prevented access to external blog pages when either blogs or external blogs are disabled

New features:

    TL-7679        New PDF export plugin in Report builder using wkhtmltopdf binary

                   This export plugin is compatible with RTL languages, has increased
                   performance, and lowered memory use.


Improvements:

    TL-4429        Added an advanced multi-item course name filter to various Report builder report sources
    TL-6283        Removed all uses of deprecated function sql_fullname in Feedback360
    TL-6474        Shortened the display of Report builder Graph labels and legend entries

                   It is now possible to specify limitations on label length for Report
                   builder graphs using the following syntax in the custom settings input:
                     label_shorten = 20
                     legend_shorten = 40
                   
                   To get the previous behaviour without shortening use value 0.

    TL-7810        Improved the performance of building hierarchy lists
    TL-8020        Added advanced multi-item Position and Organisation name filters to various Report builder report sources
    TL-8061        Changed the default settings for badge owner notifications to always send email

                   This only effects new installs. Before this patch, by default, badge
                   creators would not receive an email (or any notification) if they were
                   logged in.

    TL-8065        Improved the accessibility of the question bank export
    TL-8066        Improved the performance of the Audience enrolments sync
    TL-8073        Blogs are now disabled by default in new installations
    TL-8093        Improved the display of select boxes with a specified size

Bug fixes:

    TL-6789        Fixed the handling of transactions when exceptions occur within HR Import user sync

                   Prior to this patch, if an exception was generated while assigning user
                   positions, the exception would be handled and processing would continue.
                   However, if the exception occurred within a database transaction, the
                   transaction was not being cleaned up.

    TL-7355        Managers approving Face-to-face booking requests are now notified of the updates success

                   Previously, when a manager approved staff requests for bookings into a
                   Face-to-face session, they would then be redirected to a page saying 'You
                   can not enrol yourself in this course' (assuming they were not enrolled or
                   did not have other permissions to view the attendees page). Following any
                   approvals (by a manager or any other user), the page will now refresh onto
                   the approval required page, with a message confirming the update was
                   successful. 

    TL-7426        Fixed the course completion status of users after their RPL is deleted

                   Previously their completion would not be re-aggregated until they made
                   further progress in the course, now it is re-aggregated immediately.

    TL-7504        Updated the permissions for the unobscured user email column in Report builder reports

                   Previously the unobscured user email column and filter were only shown when
                   email was turned on in user identity settings, now it is also shown if the
                   user has the site:config capability. This ensures that the admin can use
                   these columns regardless of the user identity setting.

    TL-7521        Fixed values for position start and end dates when syncing with database source

                   If an external database that was being synced via HR Import contained a
                   Null value for position start date and position end date, this was throwing
                   an error. Null values will now mean that no value will be added to the
                   position details. 
                   
                   In addition to this, if a position start or end date field contained the
                   value 0, the value added into the position details in Totara would be the
                   current time. This has been changed such that 0 and null are equivalent and
                   result in no value being added to the position details. This is consistent
                   with imports via CSV.

    TL-7620        Fixed the display of defaults for text input custom fields in Report builder
    TL-7712        Fixed an issue with assigning a large number of users to programs

                   Previously when a large number of individuals were already assigned to a
                   program, adding more assignments could lead to an HTTP 414 error due to a
                   large amount of data being included in the URL.

    TL-7729        Replaced hardcoded strings with lang strings in the old program catalog
    TL-7731        Fixed the display of non-latin characters in program summaries when viewing Report builder reports
    TL-7781        Fixed pop-up behaviour for admins using a single-activity course with a file
    TL-7842        Fixed stuck certification completions due to a bug previously fixed in TL-6979

                   Certifications which experienced the problem which was fixed in TL-6979
                   would be stuck after upgrading. This patch will repair those records by
                   triggering the window open event again. The records will be in the correct
                   state after installing the upgrade and then running the Update
                   Certifications scheduled task.

    TL-7879        Stopped Program un-enrolment messages being sent to suspended users
    TL-7904        Fixed Terms & Conditions dialog box for Face-to-face direct enrolment plugin
    TL-7911        Fixed the restoration of certificate user information on different sites
    TL-7915        Added missing include to the Competency Status History report source
    TL-7917        Fixed the "User is suspended" dynamic audience rule when it is used more than once in the same rule set
    TL-7925        Fixed an issue with duplicate grade items when using the assignment submissions report source
    TL-7927        Fixed SCORM activities set to "display package" in the "new window (simple)" mode
    TL-7931        Fixed the booked-by & actioned columns in Face-to-face session report sources

                   The columns now display the actual user name and link instead of the
                   "Reserved" word for the "Booked by" and "Actioned by" columns.

    TL-7953        Stopped the surround legend style from being applied to child elements in Totara themes
    TL-7965        Fixed consecutive usage of the Face-to-face attendees menu option

                   Previously after adding or removing users via the attendees page, you would
                   have to refresh the page before it would work again.

    TL-7966        Replaced hardcoded "Advanced options" string with a translatable string in Report builder
    TL-7971        Corrected the positioning of short form date pickers for rtl languages
    TL-7980        Fixed the deletion of scheduled reports
    TL-7997        Fixed the shortname field for Goal types
    TL-8010        Removed unformatted html from output when exporting a user's Record of Learning to PDF
    TL-8026        Fixed the display of Face-to-face session details within Calendar events
    TL-8048        Fixed the sidebar filter for Report builder reports with paging

                   When a sidebar filter is changed, you will be taken back to the first page
                   of results (as happens with other search and filters). This patch also
                   fixes a problem which occurred if the toolbar search was used immediately
                   after using a sidebar filter.

    TL-8050        Prevent the deletion of unrelated scheduled report recipients when deleting a scheduled report

                   Previously if the ID of the scheduled report being deleted matched the ID
                   of a Report builder report, all recipients for scheduled reports based off
                   that report would also be incorrectly deleted.

    TL-8121        Corrected the display of certification due dates when exporting to pdf

Contributions:

    * Artur Rietz at Webanywhere - TL-8010
    * Chris Wharton at Catalyst NZ and Haitham Gasim at Kineo USA - TL-7980
    * Haitham Gasim at Kineo USA - TL-8026
    * Pavel Tsakalidis at Kineo UK - TL-7975
    * Tim Price at Catalyst Australia - TL-7911

Release 2.7.10 (15th December 2015):

Security issues:

    TL-7957        Totara Connect now prevents reuse of ssotokens for user logins
    TL-7975        Added read/write access controls to group assignment code throughout Totara
    TL-8076        Prevented access to external blog pages when either blogs or external blogs are disabled

Improvements:

    TL-4429        Added an advanced multi-item course name filter to various Report builder report sources
    TL-6283        Removed all uses of deprecated function sql_fullname in Feedback360
    TL-6474        Shortened the display of Report builder Graph labels and legend entries

                   It is now possible to specify limitations on label length for Report
                   builder graphs using the following syntax in the custom settings input:
                     label_shorten = 20
                     legend_shorten = 40
                   
                   To get the previous behaviour without shortening use value 0.

    TL-7684        Make validation of session selection more sensible when using the Face-to-face direct enrolment plugin
    TL-7810        Improved the performance of building hierarchy lists
    TL-8020        Added advanced multi-item Position and Organisation name filters to various Report builder report sources
    TL-8061        Changed the default settings for badge owner notifications to always send email

                   This only effects new installs. Before this patch, by default, badge
                   creators would not receive an email (or any notification) if they were
                   logged in.

    TL-8066        Improved the performance of the Audience enrolments sync
    TL-8093        Improved the display of select boxes with a specified size

Bug fixes:

    TL-6789        Fixed the handling of transactions when exceptions occur within HR Import user sync

                   Prior to this patch, if an exception was generated while assigning user
                   positions, the exception would be handled and processing would continue.
                   However, if the exception occurred within a database transaction, the
                   transaction was not being cleaned up.

    TL-7355        Managers approving Face-to-face booking requests are now notified of the updates success

                   Previously, when a manager approved staff requests for bookings into a
                   Face-to-face session, they would then be redirected to a page saying 'You
                   can not enrol yourself in this course' (assuming they were not enrolled or
                   did not have other permissions to view the attendees page). Following any
                   approvals (by a manager or any other user), the page will now refresh onto
                   the approval required page, with a message confirming the update was
                   successful. 

    TL-7400        Fix fatal error on quiz statistics report when using matching questions
    TL-7426        Fixed the course completion status of users after their RPL is deleted

                   Previously their completion would not be re-aggregated until they made
                   further progress in the course, now it is re-aggregated immediately.

    TL-7504        Updated the permissions for the unobscured user email column in Report builder reports

                   Previously the unobscured user email column and filter were only shown when
                   email was turned on in user identity settings, now it is also shown if the
                   user has the site:config capability. This ensures that the admin can use
                   these columns regardless of the user identity setting.

    TL-7521        Fixed values for position start and end dates when syncing with database source

                   If an external database that was being synced via HR Import contained a
                   Null value for position start date and position end date, this was throwing
                   an error. Null values will now mean that no value will be added to the
                   position details. 
                   
                   In addition to this, if a position start or end date field contained the
                   value 0, the value added into the position details in Totara would be the
                   current time. This has been changed such that 0 and null are equivalent and
                   result in no value being added to the position details. This is consistent
                   with imports via CSV.

    TL-7620        Fixed the display of defaults for text input custom fields in Report builder
    TL-7712        Fixed an issue with assigning a large number of users to programs

                   Previously when a large number of individuals were already assigned to a
                   program, adding more assignments could lead to an HTTP 414 error due to a
                   large amount of data being included in the URL.

    TL-7731        Fixed the display of non-latin characters in program summaries when viewing Report builder reports
    TL-7781        Fixed pop-up behaviour for admins using a single-activity course with a file
    TL-7842        Fixed stuck certification completions due to a bug previously fixed in TL-6979

                   Certifications which experienced the problem which was fixed in TL-6979
                   would be stuck after upgrading. This patch will repair those records by
                   triggering the window open event again. The records will be in the correct
                   state after installing the upgrade and then running the Update
                   Certifications scheduled task.

    TL-7879        Stopped Program un-enrolment messages being sent to suspended users
    TL-7904        Fixed Terms & Conditions dialog box for Face-to-face direct enrolment plugin
    TL-7911        Fixed the restoration of certificate user information on different sites
    TL-7917        Fixed the "User is suspended" dynamic audience rule when it is used more than once in the same rule set
    TL-7925        Fixed an issue with duplicate grade items when using the assignment submissions report source
    TL-7931        Fixed the booked-by & actioned columns in Face-to-face session report sources

                   The columns now display the actual user name and link instead of the
                   "Reserved" word for the "Booked by" and "Actioned by" columns.

    TL-7965        Fixed consecutive usage of the Face-to-face attendees menu option

                   Previously after adding or removing users via the attendees page, you would
                   have to refresh the page before it would work again.

    TL-7966        Replaced hardcoded "Advanced options" string with a translatable string in Report builder
    TL-7971        Corrected the positioning of short form date pickers for rtl languages
    TL-7976        Fixed an issue with exporting reports to PDF (portrait) on some systems
    TL-7980        Fixed the deletion of scheduled reports
    TL-7997        Fixed the shortname field for Goal types
    TL-8010        Removed unformatted html from output when exporting a user's Record of Learning to PDF
    TL-8026        Fixed the display of Face-to-face session details within Calendar events
    TL-8048        Fixed the sidebar filter for Report builder reports with paging

                   When a sidebar filter is changed, you will be taken back to the first page
                   of results (as happens with other search and filters).

    TL-8050        Prevent the deletion of unrelated scheduled report recipients when deleting a scheduled report

                   Previously if the ID of the scheduled report being deleted matched the ID
                   of a Report builder report, all recipients for scheduled reports based off
                   that report would also be incorrectly deleted.

    TL-8121        Corrected the display of certification due dates when exporting to pdf

Contributions:

    * Artur Rietz at Webanywhere - TL-8010
    * Chris Wharton at Catalyst NZ and Haitham Gasim at Kineo USA - TL-7980
    * Haitham Gasim at Kineo USA - TL-8026
    * Jo Jones at Kineo UK - TL-7976
    * Pavel Tsakalidis at Kineo UK - TL-7975
    * Tim Price at Catalyst Australia - TL-7911

Release 2.6.27 (15th December 2015):

Security issues:

    TL-7975        Added read/write access controls to group assignment code throughout Totara
    TL-8076        Prevented access to external blog pages when either blogs or external blogs are disabled

Improvements:

    TL-6283        Removed all uses of deprecated function sql_fullname in Feedback360

Bug fixes:

    TL-7355        Managers approving Face-to-face booking requests are now notified of the updates success

                   Previously, when a manager approved staff requests for bookings into a
                   Face-to-face session, they would then be redirected to a page saying 'You
                   can not enrol yourself in this course' (assuming they were not enrolled or
                   did not have other permissions to view the attendees page). Following any
                   approvals (by a manager or any other user), the page will now refresh onto
                   the approval required page, with a message confirming the update was
                   successful. 

    TL-7426        Fixed the course completion status of users after their RPL is deleted

                   Previously their completion would not be re-aggregated until they made
                   further progress in the course, now it is re-aggregated immediately.

    TL-7620        Fixed the display of defaults for text input custom fields in Report builder
    TL-7712        Fixed an issue with assigning a large number of users to programs

                   Previously when a large number of individuals were already assigned to a
                   program, adding more assignments could lead to an HTTP 414 error due to a
                   large amount of data being included in the URL.

    TL-7731        Fixed the display of non-latin characters in program summaries when viewing Report builder reports
    TL-7842        Fixed stuck certification completions due to a bug previously fixed in TL-6979

                   Certifications which experienced the problem which was fixed in TL-6979
                   would be stuck after upgrading. This patch will repair those records by
                   triggering the window open event again. The records will be in the correct
                   state after installing the upgrade and then running the hourly
                   certifications cron job.

    TL-7879        Stopped Program un-enrolment messages being sent to suspended users
    TL-7911        Fixed the restoration of certificate user information on different sites
    TL-7917        Fixed the "User is suspended" dynamic audience rule when it is used more than once in the same rule set
    TL-7925        Fixed an issue with duplicate grade items when using the assignment submissions report source
    TL-7976        Fixed an issue with exporting reports to PDF (portrait) on some systems
    TL-7997        Fixed the shortname field for Goal types
    TL-8026        Fixed the display of Face-to-face session details within Calendar events
    TL-8032        Fixed the display of the completion status for deleted users in Record of Learning reports
    TL-8048        Fixed the sidebar filter for Report builder reports with paging

                   When a sidebar filter is changed, you will be taken back to the first page
                   of results (as happens with other search and filters).


Contributions:

    * Haitham Gasim at Kineo USA - TL-8026
    * Jo Jones at Kineo UK - TL-7976
    * Pavel Tsakalidis at Kineo UK - TL-7975
    * Tim Price at Catalyst Australia - TL-7911

Release 2.5.34 (15th December 2015):

Security issues:

    TL-7975        Added read/write access controls to group assignment code throughout Totara
    TL-8076        Prevented access to external blog pages when either blogs or external blogs are disabled

Bug fixes:

    TL-7426        Fixed the course completion status of users after their RPL is deleted

                   Previously their completion would not be re-aggregated until they made
                   further progress in the course, now it is re-aggregated immediately.

    TL-7842        Fixed stuck certification completions due to a bug previously fixed in TL-6979

                   Certifications which experienced the problem which was fixed in TL-6979
                   would be stuck after upgrading. This patch will repair those records by
                   triggering the window open event again. The records will be in the correct
                   state after installing the upgrade and then running the hourly
                   certifications cron job.

    TL-7879        Stopped Program un-enrolment messages being sent to suspended users
    TL-7911        Fixed the restoration of certificate user information on different sites
    TL-7976        Fixed an issue with exporting reports to PDF (portrait) on some systems
    TL-7997        Fixed the shortname field for Goal types
    TL-8032        Fixed the display of the completion status for deleted users in Record of Learning reports

Contributions:

    * Jo Jones at Kineo UK - TL-7976
    * Pavel Tsakalidis at Kineo UK - TL-7975
    * Tim Price at Catalyst Australia - TL-7911

Release 2.4.37 (15th December 2015):

Security issues:

    TL-8076        Prevented access to external blog pages when either blogs or external blogs are disabled

Bug fixes:

    TL-7911        Fixed the restoration of certificate user information on different sites

Contributions:

    * Tim Price at Catalyst Australia - TL-7911

Release 2.2.44 (15th December 2015):

Security issues:

    TL-8076        Prevented access to external blog pages when either blogs or external blogs are disabled