CVE-2023-22697 in Survey Maker Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/13/2024
Missing Authorization vulnerability in Survey Maker team Survey Maker allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels.This issue affects Survey Maker: from n/a through 3.2.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/17/2025
The CVE-2023-22697 vulnerability represents a critical missing authorization flaw within the Survey Maker plugin that exposes systems to unauthorized access and potential data breaches. This vulnerability specifically targets the access control security levels within the Survey Maker team Survey Maker application, creating a significant risk for organizations that rely on this platform for data collection and survey management. The flaw allows attackers to bypass intended security measures and access restricted functionalities without proper authentication or authorization, fundamentally undermining the security architecture of the affected systems.
This vulnerability stems from incorrectly configured access control mechanisms that fail to properly validate user permissions and roles within the Survey Maker application. The issue manifests when the system does not adequately enforce authorization checks, enabling malicious actors to exploit gaps in the security model and gain access to survey data, user information, and administrative functions that should be restricted to authorized personnel only. The vulnerability affects all versions from the initial release through version 3.2.0, indicating a persistent flaw that has remained unaddressed for an extended period within the software lifecycle.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can lead to comprehensive data compromise and system manipulation. Attackers exploiting this flaw can potentially view confidential survey responses, modify survey configurations, access user management features, and even gain administrative privileges depending on the specific implementation details. This represents a serious threat to data integrity and confidentiality, particularly in environments where sensitive information is collected through surveys, making it a prime target for data exfiltration and privacy violations. The vulnerability directly violates fundamental security principles and creates pathways for persistent threats to establish footholds within affected networks.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability by updating to the latest version of Survey Maker where the authorization issues have been addressed. The fix typically involves implementing proper access control validation checks and ensuring that all user interactions with the system are properly authenticated and authorized. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of their Survey Maker installations to identify any potential exploitation attempts and review access logs for signs of unauthorized activities. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and monitoring controls can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts while the patch is being deployed.
This vulnerability 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 all access control implementations. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and unauthorized access, potentially enabling adversaries to move laterally within networks and establish persistent access. The security community should view this as a critical reminder of the importance of proper access control implementation and the necessity of regular security assessments to identify and remediate authorization gaps that could be exploited by malicious actors.