LimeSurvey up to 2.06 Admin Backup endpoint backup path traversal

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability marked as critical has been reported in LimeSurvey up to 2.06. The impacted element is an unknown function of the file index.php/admin/update/sa/backup of the component Admin Backup endpoint. Performing a manipulation results in path traversal. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2025-34120. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. There is no exploit available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in LimeSurvey up to 2.06. This affects an unknown code of the file index.php/admin/update/sa/backup of the component Admin Backup endpoint. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a path traversal vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-22. The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality. The summary by CVE is:

An unauthenticated file download vulnerability exists in LimeSurvey versions from 2.0+ up to and including 2.06+ Build 151014. The application fails to validate serialized input to the admin backup endpoint (`index.php/admin/update/sa/backup`), allowing attackers to specify arbitrary file paths using a crafted `datasupdateinfo` payload. The files are packaged in a ZIP archive and made available for download without authentication. This vulnerability can be exploited to read arbitrary files on the host system, including sensitive OS and configuration files.

The weakness was shared by Pichaya Morimoto. It is possible to read the advisory at web.archive.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2025-34120 since 04/15/2025. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. No form of authentication is needed for exploitation. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 07/17/2025). The attack technique deployed by this issue is T1006 according to MITRE ATT&CK.

There is no information about possible countermeasures known. It may be suggested to replace the affected object with an alternative product.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at EUVD (EUVD-2025-21750). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• Survey Software

Name

• LimeSurvey

Version

• 2.06

License

• open-source

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

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