CVE-2019-16186 in LimeSurvey
Summary
by MITRE
In Limesurvey before 3.17.14, admin users can access the plugin manager without proper permissions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/18/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-16186 affects Limesurvey versions prior to 3.17.14 and represents a critical access control flaw within the administrative interface. This issue allows unauthorized administrative users to bypass proper authentication mechanisms and gain access to the plugin manager functionality. The flaw exists in the permission validation system that governs administrative access to sensitive system components, creating a pathway for malicious actors to escalate their privileges and potentially compromise the entire survey platform.
This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and insufficient authorization checks within the Limesurvey administrative framework. The system fails to properly verify user credentials and role-based permissions before granting access to the plugin manager module. Attackers can exploit this weakness by manipulating their administrative session or by leveraging existing administrative credentials to access restricted functionalities. The issue aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in software systems, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege that should govern administrative access controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables attackers to install, modify, or remove plugins within the Limesurvey environment. This capability can lead to various malicious activities including the deployment of backdoors, data exfiltration tools, or other persistent threats that can compromise the integrity of survey data and system operations. The plugin manager access allows for arbitrary code execution within the context of the web application, potentially leading to complete system compromise. Additionally, the vulnerability can be exploited to manipulate survey configurations, alter data processing workflows, or gain persistent access to sensitive information collected through the survey platform.
Organizations using affected Limesurvey versions should immediately implement mitigation strategies including updating to version 3.17.14 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the permission validation flaw. Network segmentation and monitoring of administrative access patterns should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation and highlights the need for regular security assessments of administrative interfaces. Security teams should also review and enforce strict administrative access policies, implement multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts, and conduct regular penetration testing to identify similar authorization flaws in other system components. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the T1078 credential access subtechnique where adversaries leverage legitimate credentials to gain elevated access rights.