Moodle in English: Create a course = 'Either course id or category must be specified'

Create a course = 'Either course id or category must be specified'

by y y - Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 5:17 AM

Hi there,

I am trying to add a course in Moodle. I add a category, full name, short name, summary, then try to save, the software asks for authentication, I enter my user id and password and the software says 'Either course id or category must be specified' without creating the course.

I am supposed to be an administrator, course creator and teacher. I dont understamd what is not working.

Please help

Thanks

Re: Create a course = 'Either course id or category must be specified'

by Mary Cooch - Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 5:47 AM

what version of Moodle are you running? Do you have email self authenticatin/registration? Do you have a link to your frnt page?

Average of ratings: -

Re: Create a course = 'Either course id or category must be specified'

by y y - Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 6:04 AM

Hi Mary,

I have the last version of moodle: http://elearning.powerfulmindworks.com/campus/

The self-registration is on.

Cheers.

Average of ratings: -

Re: Create a course = 'Either course id or category must be specified'

by Mary Cooch - Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 6:34 AM

I think you need to check you haven't been hacked -look at your files on your server to see if there have been any alterations all at the same time recently-check your config.php file to see if it has any links to unwanted websites or products. I just googled your site name with a couple of famous products often advertised online -and they came up immediately linked to your moodle. Have a look also at http://docs.moodle.org/en/Hacked_site_recovery
I hope I am wrong

Average of ratings: -

Re: Create a course = 'Either course id or category must be specified'

by y y - Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 6:39 AM

Hi Mary,

Many thanks. If I've been hacked... What can I do?

Cheers.

Average of ratings: -

Re: Create a course = 'Either course id or category must be specified'

by Jon Witts - Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 6:41 AM

Following the steps in the link Mary provided would be a good starting point

Average of ratings: -

Re: Create a course = 'Either course id or category must be specified'

by y y - Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 6:44 AM

Thanks Jon.... I dont really understand how to follow those steps.... Where to find the info about the hackers....

Average of ratings: -

Re: Create a course = 'Either course id or category must be specified'

by Mary Cooch - Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 6:55 AM

YY - it doesn't really matter who the hackers are or where they have come from. Your job is to get rid of the pages that have malicious code in them (for that is what it is) That link http://docs.moodle.org/en/Hacked_site_recovery
will give you some hints as to where to start doing that so your Moodle is "clean" again.

Average of ratings: -

Re: Create a course = 'Either course id or category must be specified'

by y y - Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 7:43 AM

Hi Jon and Mary,

Thank you

This morning I had plenty of users that were unknown to me. I just deleted them. I changed the passwords for my website. I will close the self-registration option again. I just did a back-up of my elearning website via FTP. I told my web hosting provider that I had been hacked.

Now, it says:

Find out when exactly was the site hacked.
Look for any modified or uploaded files on your web server - look for oldest file that does not belong in Moodle.
Check your server logs for any suspicious activity around that date or few hours before, such as strange page parameters, failed login attempts, command history (especially as root), unknown user accounts, etc.

I have no idea how to check for any suspicious things in my files. What is a strange page parameter, command history.... ?

Average of ratings: -

Re: Create a course = 'Either course id or category must be specified'

by y y - Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 8:14 AM

In the php_errorlog it says:

[04-Mar-2009 02:32:53] PHP Warning: strpos() [<a href='function.strpos'>function.strpos</a>]: Offset not contained in string in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/help.php(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[04-Mar-2009 02:32:53] PHP Warning: gzinflate() [<a href='function.gzinflate'>function.gzinflate</a>]: data error in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/help.php(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[04-Mar-2009 02:32:53] PHP Notice: Undefined index: dhhag in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/theme/chameleon/pix/mod/data/field/date/mdl_utf.php(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[09-Mar-2009 06:41:50] PHP Warning: strpos() [<a href='function.strpos'>function.strpos</a>]: Offset not contained in string in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/help.php(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[09-Mar-2009 06:41:50] PHP Warning: gzinflate() [<a href='function.gzinflate'>function.gzinflate</a>]: data error in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/help.php(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[09-Mar-2009 06:41:50] PHP Notice: Undefined index: dhhag in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/theme/chameleon/pix/mod/data/field/date/mdl_utf.php(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[09-Mar-2009 06:42:00] PHP Warning: strpos() [<a href='function.strpos'>function.strpos</a>]: Offset not contained in string in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/help.php(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[09-Mar-2009 06:42:00] PHP Warning: gzinflate() [<a href='function.gzinflate'>function.gzinflate</a>]: data error in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/help.php(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[09-Mar-2009 06:42:00] PHP Notice: Undefined index: dhhag in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/theme/chameleon/pix/mod/data/field/date/mdl_utf.php(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[09-Mar-2009 06:42:05] PHP Warning: strpos() [<a href='function.strpos'>function.strpos</a>]: Offset not contained in string in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/help.php(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[09-Mar-2009 06:42:05] PHP Warning: gzinflate() [<a href='function.gzinflate'>function.gzinflate</a>]: data error in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/help.php(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[09-Mar-2009 06:42:05] PHP Notice: Undefined index: dhhag in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/theme/chameleon/pix/mod/data/field/date/mdl_utf.php(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[09-Mar-2009 06:42:07] PHP Warning: strpos() [<a href='function.strpos'>function.strpos</a>]: Offset not contained in string in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/help.php(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[09-Mar-2009 06:42:07] PHP Warning: gzinflate() [<a href='function.gzinflate'>function.gzinflate</a>]: data error in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/help.php(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[09-Mar-2009 06:42:07] PHP Notice: Undefined index: dhhag in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/theme/chameleon/pix/mod/data/field/date/mdl_utf.php(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[15-May-2009 13:00:15] PHP Warning: gzinflate() [<a href='function.gzinflate'>function.gzinflate</a>]: data error in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/help.php(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[15-May-2009 13:00:15] PHP Notice: Undefined index: dhhag in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/theme/chameleon/pix/mod/data/field/date/mdl_utf.php(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[15-May-2009 13:00:15] PHP Warning: gzinflate() [<a href='function.gzinflate'>function.gzinflate</a>]: data error in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/help.php(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[15-May-2009 13:00:18] PHP Warning: gzinflate() [<a href='function.gzinflate'>function.gzinflate</a>]: data error in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/help.php(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[15-May-2009 13:00:18] PHP Notice: Undefined index: dhhag in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/theme/chameleon/pix/mod/data/field/date/mdl_utf.php(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[15-May-2009 13:00:19] PHP Warning: gzinflate() [<a href='function.gzinflate'>function.gzinflate</a>]: data error in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/help.php(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[15-May-2009 13:00:19] PHP Notice: Undefined index: dhhag in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/theme/chameleon/pix/mod/data/field/date/mdl_utf.php(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[08-Jun-2009 15:57:00] PHP Warning: gzinflate() [<a href='function.gzinflate'>function.gzinflate</a>]: data error in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/index.php(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[08-Jun-2009 15:57:00] PHP Notice: Undefined index: dhhag in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/theme/chameleon/pix/mod/data/field/date/mdl_utf.php(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[08-Jun-2009 15:57:00] PHP Notice: Undefined variable: R9DB9E103E88D622316D42B508D6D11AB in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/theme/chameleon/pix/mod/data/field/date/mdl_utf.php(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[08-Jun-2009 15:57:03] PHP Warning: gzinflate() [<a href='function.gzinflate'>function.gzinflate</a>]: data error in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/index.php(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[08-Jun-2009 15:57:03] PHP Notice: Undefined index: dhhag in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/theme/chameleon/pix/mod/data/field/date/mdl_utf.php(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[08-Jun-2009 15:57:03] PHP Notice: Undefined variable: R9DB9E103E88D622316D42B508D6D11AB in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/theme/chameleon/pix/mod/data/field/date/mdl_utf.php(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[08-Jun-2009 16:01:39] PHP Warning: gzinflate() [<a href='function.gzinflate'>function.gzinflate</a>]: data error in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/index.php(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[08-Jun-2009 16:01:39] PHP Notice: Undefined index: dhhag in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/theme/chameleon/pix/mod/data/field/date/mdl_utf.php(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[08-Jun-2009 16:01:39] PHP Notice: Undefined variable: R9DB9E103E88D622316D42B508D6D11AB in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/theme/chameleon/pix/mod/data/field/date/mdl_utf.php(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[08-Jun-2009 17:35:44] PHP Warning: gzinflate() [<a href='function.gzinflate'>function.gzinflate</a>]: data error in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/index.php(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[08-Jun-2009 17:35:44] PHP Notice: Undefined index: dhhag in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/theme/chameleon/pix/mod/data/field/date/mdl_utf.php(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[08-Jun-2009 17:35:44] PHP Notice: Undefined variable: R9DB9E103E88D622316D42B508D6D11AB in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/theme/chameleon/pix/mod/data/field/date/mdl_utf.php(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[08-Jun-2009 17:36:02] PHP Warning: gzinflate() [<a href='function.gzinflate'>function.gzinflate</a>]: data error in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/index.php(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[08-Jun-2009 17:36:02] PHP Notice: Undefined index: dhhag in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/theme/chameleon/pix/mod/data/field/date/mdl_utf.php(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[08-Jun-2009 17:36:02] PHP Notice: Undefined variable: R9DB9E103E88D622316D42B508D6D11AB in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/theme/chameleon/pix/mod/data/field/date/mdl_utf.php(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[08-Jun-2009 17:36:06] PHP Warning: strpos() [<a href='function.strpos'>function.strpos</a>]: Offset not contained in string in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/index.php(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[08-Jun-2009 17:36:06] PHP Warning: gzinflate() [<a href='function.gzinflate'>function.gzinflate</a>]: data error in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/index.php(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[08-Jun-2009 17:36:06] PHP Notice: Undefined index: dhhag in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/theme/chameleon/pix/mod/data/field/date/mdl_utf.php(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[08-Jun-2009 17:36:06] PHP Notice: Use of undefined constant port - assumed 'port' in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/theme/chameleon/pix/mod/data/field/date/mdl_utf.php(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[08-Jun-2009 17:36:06] PHP Notice: Undefined index: port in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/theme/chameleon/pix/mod/data/field/date/mdl_utf.php(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[08-Jun-2009 17:36:06] PHP Notice: Use of undefined constant path - assumed 'path' in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/theme/chameleon/pix/mod/data/field/date/mdl_utf.php(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[08-Jun-2009 17:36:06] PHP Notice: Use of undefined constant query - assumed 'query' in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/theme/chameleon/pix/mod/data/field/date/mdl_utf.php(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[08-Jun-2009 17:36:06] PHP Notice: Use of undefined constant host - assumed 'host' in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/theme/chameleon/pix/mod/data/field/date/mdl_utf.php(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[08-Jun-2009 17:36:06] PHP Notice: Undefined index: dgu_wurl in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/theme/chameleon/pix/mod/data/field/date/mdl_utf.php(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[08-Jun-2009 17:38:15] PHP Warning: gzinflate() [<a href='function.gzinflate'>function.gzinflate</a>]: data error in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/index.php(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[08-Jun-2009 17:38:15] PHP Notice: Undefined index: dhhag in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/theme/chameleon/pix/mod/data/field/date/mdl_utf.php(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[08-Jun-2009 17:38:15] PHP Notice: Undefined variable: R9DB9E103E88D622316D42B508D6D11AB in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/theme/chameleon/pix/mod/data/field/date/mdl_utf.php(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[08-Jun-2009 17:39:32] PHP Warning: gzinflate() [<a href='function.gzinflate'>function.gzinflate</a>]: data error in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/index.php(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[08-Jun-2009 17:39:32] PHP Notice: Undefined index: dhhag in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/theme/chameleon/pix/mod/data/field/date/mdl_utf.php(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[08-Jun-2009 17:39:32] PHP Notice: Undefined variable: R9DB9E103E88D622316D42B508D6D11AB in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/theme/chameleon/pix/mod/data/field/date/mdl_utf.php(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[08-Jun-2009 17:40:00] PHP Warning: gzinflate() [<a href='function.gzinflate'>function.gzinflate</a>]: data error in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/index.php(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[08-Jun-2009 17:40:00] PHP Notice: Undefined index: dhhag in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/theme/chameleon/pix/mod/data/field/date/mdl_utf.php(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[08-Jun-2009 17:40:00] PHP Notice: Undefined variable: R9DB9E103E88D622316D42B508D6D11AB in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/theme/chameleon/pix/mod/data/field/date/mdl_utf.php(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[08-Jun-2009 17:40:21] PHP Warning: gzinflate() [<a href='function.gzinflate'>function.gzinflate</a>]: data error in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/index.php(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[08-Jun-2009 17:40:21] PHP Notice: Undefined index: dhhag in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/theme/chameleon/pix/mod/data/field/date/mdl_utf.php(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

[08-Jun-2009 17:40:21] PHP Notice: Undefined variable: R9DB9E103E88D622316D42B508D6D11AB in /home/powerfu1/public_html/elearning/campus/theme/chameleon/pix/mod/data/field/date/mdl_utf.php(1) : eval()'d code(1) : eval()'d code on line 1

Anything suspicious?

Any of the enclosed php that should be checked?

Thanks

Average of ratings: -

Re: Create a course = 'Either course id or category must be specified'

by y y - Thursday, June 11, 2009, 12:12 AM

I did modify the index.php for the hack code to be deleted. Now, the course adding still doesnt work. What should I do?

Average of ratings: -

Re: Create a course = 'Either course id or category must be specified'

by Mary Cooch - Thursday, June 11, 2009, 12:26 AM

It isn't just the index.php file that could have been hacked -you need to look in every file which sugggests it has recently been modified and look for extra code and delete that. I would be surprised if all they had done was get into one file.

Average of ratings: -

Re: Create a course = 'Either course id or category must be specified'

by y y - Thursday, June 11, 2009, 9:18 AM

Hi Mary,

You are right. All my php are contaminated. Do you know a software that can clean the mess. Its always the same code at the beginning of each php.

Thanks

Average of ratings: -

Re: Create a course = 'Either course id or category must be specified'

by Mary Cooch - Thursday, June 11, 2009, 7:40 PM

I don't know how to do it automatically; sorry. A similar thing happened to me on a wordpress site and I just went in all the files and deleted the stuff - mind you; I then upgraded anyway - as you say you are on the most recent version you might like to reinstall everything.

Average of ratings: -

General help

Create a course = 'Either course id or category must be specified'