Some Moodle functionality depends on PHP extension fileinfo. Although fileinfo.so is included in package php-common in CentOS 7 it's not included in the main php5 package on openSUSE (you have to additionally install php5-fileinfo).

So shouldn't fileinfo be checked for on installation and in the Environment report (Site administration -> Server -> Environment)?

An example of the functionality that requires fileinfo: if you back up a course and select IMS Common Cartridge 1.1 on the Initial settings page. When the backup runs it stops part-way with the message "You must install fileinfo extension!".