CVE-2015-4628 in LimeSurvey
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in application/controllers/admin/questiongroups.php in LimeSurvey before 2.06+ Build 150618 allows remote authenticated administrators to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the sid parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/21/2022
The CVE-2015-4628 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the LimeSurvey web application platform that affects versions prior to 2.06+ Build 150618. This vulnerability specifically targets the questiongroups.php controller file located within the admin application directory, making it accessible to authenticated administrators who possess administrative privileges. The flaw manifests through improper input validation of the sid parameter, which is used to identify survey identifiers within the application's administrative interface. This vulnerability classifies under CWE-89, which represents improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command, commonly known as SQL injection attacks. The security implications are severe as the vulnerability requires only authenticated access to the administrative interface, eliminating the need for additional reconnaissance or privilege escalation techniques.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an authenticated administrator interacts with the questiongroups.php controller and manipulates the sid parameter through malicious input. The application fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL query constructions, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary SQL commands into the database layer. This injection capability enables attackers to execute unauthorized database operations including but not limited to data extraction, modification, deletion, or even privilege escalation within the database system. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the administrative context where users possess elevated privileges, potentially allowing full database compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive survey data, user information, and system configuration details.
Operationally, the impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise to encompass complete system control and potential data exfiltration. An attacker with administrative access could leverage this vulnerability to extract all survey responses, user credentials, and sensitive organizational data stored within the LimeSurvey database. The attack vector requires minimal complexity as it only necessitates access to the administrative interface, making it particularly concerning for organizations that maintain administrative accounts with broad access permissions. The vulnerability's persistence and potential for lateral movement within the database environment creates opportunities for extended compromise and data mining operations that could remain undetected for extended periods. This weakness directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which covers legitimate credentials and T1046 which addresses network service scanning, as the attacker could use the compromised administrative access to explore and exploit additional system components.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-supplied patch for LimeSurvey version 2.06+ Build 150618 which addresses the input validation issue in the questiongroups.php controller. Additional protective measures should include implementing strict input validation and output encoding for all parameters used in database queries, enforcing principle of least privilege for administrative accounts, and implementing web application firewalls to detect and prevent SQL injection attempts. Database activity monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous query patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of regular security patch management and input validation practices, particularly within administrative interfaces where elevated privileges can be leveraged for maximum impact. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts and regular security audits of web application components to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across their technology infrastructure.