CVE-2026-75325 in DWSurvey
Summary
by MITRE • 08/26/2026
DWSurvey v6.14.0 is is vulnerable to authentication bypass via the '/api/dwsurvey/none/' and '/api/dwsurvey/up/**' parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2026
The vulnerability identified in DWSurvey version 6.14.0 represents a critical security flaw centered on improper access control mechanisms within the application's API layer. Specifically, the endpoints /api/dwsurvey/none/ and /api/dwsurvey/up/** fail to enforce mandatory authentication checks before processing incoming requests. This architectural oversight allows unauthenticated actors to interact with sensitive functionality that should be restricted to authorized users only. The presence of these unprotected routes indicates a failure in the middleware or routing configuration responsible for validating user sessions, tokens, or credentials prior to executing business logic associated with survey data management and file uploads.
From a technical perspective, this flaw aligns directly with CWE-287, which describes Improper Authentication, as well as CWE-306, Missing Authentication for Critical Function. The application likely relies on default configurations or legacy code paths that bypass the standard security filters applied to other parts of the system. By exposing these specific API endpoints without requiring valid authentication headers or session cookies, the software creates a direct entry point for attackers. This is particularly dangerous because it allows remote code execution potential if the upload functionality can be leveraged to inject malicious scripts or shellcode into the server's file storage directory, leading to further compromise of the underlying infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. An attacker who exploits this authentication bypass can potentially access, modify, or delete survey data without any form of authorization. This compromises the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the organization's collected information. In scenarios where DWSurvey handles sensitive personal data or proprietary business intelligence, such unauthorized access constitutes a significant data breach with potential regulatory consequences under frameworks like GDPR or HIPAA depending on the jurisdiction and data type. Furthermore, if the /api/dwsurvey/up/** endpoint allows file uploads without proper validation of authentication status, it may facilitate arbitrary file upload attacks, enabling attackers to place web shells or malicious executables onto the server for persistent access and lateral movement within the network environment.
This vulnerability is also closely associated with MITRE ATT&CK technique T1078, Valid Accounts, although in this case, no valid account is required at all due to the bypass nature of the flaw. It falls under the broader category of Initial Access tactics where attackers exploit misconfigurations or logic errors rather than stolen credentials. The lack of authentication effectively renders any other security controls ineffective for these specific endpoints, as there is no identity verification step to gatekeep access. This situation highlights a critical gap in the application's security architecture, suggesting that input validation and authorization checks were not uniformly applied across all API routes during development or deployment phases.
To mitigate this risk, immediate remediation actions are required at both the code level and infrastructure configuration levels. Developers must review the routing definitions for DWSurvey to ensure that authentication middleware is correctly attached to all sensitive endpoints, particularly those handling data submission and file uploads. Implementing strict access control lists (ACLs) or role-based access control (RBAC) policies will help enforce that only authenticated users with appropriate privileges can invoke these APIs. Additionally, integrating automated security testing into the continuous integration pipeline can detect such misconfigurations early in the development lifecycle before they reach production environments.
For organizations currently running DWSurvey 6.14.0 or affected versions, it is imperative to apply any available patches provided by the vendor that address this authentication bypass issue. If a patch is not immediately available, temporary mitigation strategies should be employed at the network perimeter level. This includes configuring web application firewalls (WAFs) to block requests targeting these specific API paths from untrusted IP addresses or requiring additional layers of authentication such as multi-factor authentication for administrative interfaces. Regular security audits and penetration testing focused on access control mechanisms are recommended to identify similar vulnerabilities across other modules within the application ecosystem, ensuring a robust defense-in-depth posture against unauthorized access attempts.