CVE-2019-16178 in LimeSurvey
Summary
by MITRE
A stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability was found in Limesurvey before 3.17.14 that allows authenticated users with correct permissions to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via titles of admin box buttons on the home page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/18/2023
This stored cross-site scripting vulnerability exists within the LimeSurvey platform prior to version 3.17.14 and represents a significant security risk for organizations relying on this survey management system. The flaw specifically affects the administrative interface where users with appropriate permissions can manipulate the titles of admin box buttons displayed on the home page. When these modified button titles are subsequently rendered to other authenticated users, the malicious script content gets executed in their browser context, creating a persistent XSS attack vector that can compromise user sessions and data.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and output encoding within the LimeSurvey administrative components. When administrators modify button titles through the web interface, the system fails to properly validate or escape the input data before storing it in the database. This stored data is then retrieved and displayed on subsequent page loads without proper HTML encoding, allowing malicious scripts to execute when users view the affected administrative pages. The vulnerability specifically targets the home page's administrative dashboard where button titles are rendered, making it particularly dangerous as it affects all authenticated users who access this interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, and potentially escalate privileges within the LimeSurvey environment. An attacker with valid administrative credentials could inject malicious JavaScript that captures user input, redirects users to phishing sites, or modifies survey configurations. This creates a persistent threat that remains active until the vulnerable version is patched and the malicious content is removed from the database. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires only authenticated access with proper permissions, making it accessible to insiders or compromised administrative accounts.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to LimeSurvey version 3.17.14 or later to remediate this vulnerability, as the fix addresses the root cause through proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Security measures should include implementing strict input sanitization for all user-modifiable content within administrative interfaces, establishing regular security audits of stored data, and monitoring for unauthorized modifications to administrative components. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which classifies cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering through malicious content injection. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates the importance of defense-in-depth strategies that protect administrative interfaces through proper access controls, input validation, and regular security assessments to prevent unauthorized modifications to critical system components.