CVE-2023-44796 in LimeSurvey
Summary
by MITRE • 11/18/2023
Cross Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in LimeSurvey before version 6.2.9-230925 allows a remote attacker to escalate privileges via a crafted script to the _generaloptions_panel.php component.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/14/2023
This cross site scripting vulnerability exists in LimeSurvey versions prior to 6.2.9-230925 and represents a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of the victim's browser. The vulnerability specifically affects the _generaloptions_panel.php component, which serves as a critical administrative interface for managing survey settings and configurations. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious code that can be executed when administrators access the affected panel, creating a persistent threat vector that can escalate privileges and potentially compromise the entire survey platform.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the general options panel component. When administrators navigate to this specific interface, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data that is subsequently rendered back to the browser. This creates an environment where malicious payloads can be injected through parameters or form fields that are processed by the _generaloptions_panel.php script. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross site scripting flaws as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious scripts that leverage the privileged context of administrative users to perform actions beyond normal user capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the ability to escalate privileges and potentially gain full administrative control over the LimeSurvey instance. Once an attacker successfully injects malicious code through the general options panel, they can manipulate survey configurations, access sensitive data, modify user permissions, and potentially exfiltrate confidential information. The attack surface is particularly concerning because the affected component is part of the core administrative functionality that legitimate administrators regularly access, making successful exploitation more likely and potentially more damaging. This vulnerability can be exploited without requiring authentication, as the malicious payload can be triggered when administrators simply view the affected panel.
Organizations using affected LimeSurvey versions should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies including applying the available security patches that address the XSS vulnerability in the _generaloptions_panel.php component. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious script injection attempts, and input validation should be strengthened across all user-supplied data entry points. Security teams should also conduct thorough penetration testing to identify any potential exploitation attempts and ensure that all administrative interfaces properly sanitize and encode output. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing proper input validation as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's mitigation strategies for web application vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing content security policies and regular security audits can significantly reduce the risk of successful exploitation while maintaining operational continuity.