CVE-2012-4994 in LimeSurvey
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in admin/admin.php in LimeSurvey before 1.91+ Build 120224 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the id parameter in a browse action. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/04/2018
The CVE-2012-4994 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw in LimeSurvey version 1.91 and earlier, specifically within the admin/admin.php file. This vulnerability affects the administrative interface of the popular open source survey platform, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on this tool for data collection and survey management. The flaw manifests when authenticated administrators interact with the browse action functionality, making it particularly dangerous as it requires only legitimate administrative access rather than privileged user credentials. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization of the id parameter, which allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary sql commands into the application's database layer.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the id parameter within the browse action of the administrative interface. When an authenticated user accesses the browse functionality with a specially crafted id value, the application fails to properly escape or validate the input before incorporating it into sql queries. This lack of proper sanitization creates a direct path for sql injection attacks, enabling attackers to execute arbitrary database commands with the privileges of the affected administrative account. The vulnerability is classified as a classic sql injection attack vector that can be leveraged to extract sensitive data, modify database contents, or potentially escalate privileges within the application's database environment. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-89: sql injection, which is categorized as a weakness in the input validation and sanitization processes of web applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-4994 extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with substantial control over the survey platform's database operations. An attacker with administrative access can leverage this vulnerability to access confidential survey responses, user information, and other sensitive data stored within the LimeSurvey database. The implications are particularly severe for organizations using LimeSurvey for collecting personal or sensitive information, as the vulnerability could lead to data breaches and compliance violations. Additionally, the attacker could potentially modify survey configurations, delete data, or even gain deeper system access if the database user has elevated privileges. The attack vector requires only authenticated access, making it particularly concerning as it can be exploited by compromised administrator accounts or insider threats. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004: Valid Accounts - Cloud Accounts, as it exploits legitimate administrative credentials to perform unauthorized database operations.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to protect their LimeSurvey installations. The primary and most effective mitigation involves upgrading to LimeSurvey version 1.91+ Build 120224 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the sql injection vulnerability. System administrators should also implement additional security measures including input validation, parameterized queries, and regular security audits of the application's administrative interfaces. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit administrative access to only necessary personnel, reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual database access patterns or query execution that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing proper input validation practices in web applications to prevent sql injection attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring solutions to provide additional layers of protection against similar vulnerabilities in the future.