CVE-2015-5078 in LimeSurvey
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the insert function in application/controllers/admin/dataentry.php in LimeSurvey 2.06+ allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the closedate parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/22/2022
The CVE-2015-5078 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw within LimeSurvey version 2.06 and later, specifically targeting the dataentry controller's insert function. This vulnerability exists in the administrative interface where authenticated users can manipulate the closedate parameter through the application/controllers/admin/dataentry.php file. The flaw allows attackers who have already gained administrative access to escalate their privileges and execute arbitrary sql commands on the underlying database system. This represents a severe privilege escalation vulnerability where the attacker's existing authentication provides the initial vector for deeper system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization within the closedate parameter handling. When the application processes user-supplied data through the insert function, it fails to properly escape or validate the closedate parameter before incorporating it into sql queries. This creates an environment where malicious sql code can be injected and executed with the privileges of the web application's database user. The vulnerability specifically affects the dataentry controller which handles survey data management operations, making it particularly dangerous for administrators managing sensitive survey data. The flaw demonstrates poor input handling practices that align with common weakness enumerations such as cwe-89 sql injection, where insufficient sanitization of user inputs leads to unauthorized database access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation, as it enables complete database compromise and potential lateral movement within the affected system. An authenticated attacker can leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive survey responses, user credentials, system configurations, and potentially access other connected systems if database users have elevated privileges. The vulnerability's remote execution capability means that attackers do not need physical access to the system, and the authenticated nature suggests that the attack could be initiated through compromised administrative accounts or by exploiting other authentication bypass vulnerabilities. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of survey data, which may contain sensitive personal information, making it particularly concerning for organizations handling healthcare, financial, or personal data. The attack vector aligns with techniques described in the attack pattern taxonomy under attack-119 sql injection where attackers exploit application vulnerabilities to execute malicious sql commands.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-5078 should prioritize immediate patching of LimeSurvey to versions that address the sql injection vulnerability in the dataentry controller. Organizations should implement proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future. Database access controls should be reviewed to ensure that web application users have minimal required privileges, following the principle of least privilege. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual database access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and code reviews focusing on input handling and sql query construction. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts through log analysis and implement web application firewalls to detect and block malicious sql injection payloads. Additionally, administrative accounts should be protected through multi-factor authentication and regular credential rotation to minimize the impact of potential account compromise. The remediation approach should align with industry best practices for sql injection prevention as outlined in the owasp top ten and nist cybersecurity framework guidelines.