LimeSurvey, an open-source and web-based survey application, is widely used for creating custom surveys that can be sent to participants. The LimeSurvey software allows users to create and manage survey layouts without having much technical knowledge. However, a recent vulnerability (CVE-2022-43279) has been discovered in version 5.4.4 of LimeSurvey, which allows an attacker to exploit a SQL injection vulnerability in the component /application/views/themeOptions/update.php. This post aims to delve into the details of this vulnerability and provide some insight into its exploitation.

Description

The CVE-2022-43279 vulnerability is a SQL injection vulnerability that affects LimeSurvey v5.4.4. This vulnerability exists in the /application/views/themeOptions/update.php file, which is a key component of the LimeSurvey application. SQL injection is a type of attack that allows an attacker to insert or inject SQL queries via user input fields in a web application. This can lead to unauthorized access to the application database, data theft, and even complete control of the target web application.

Vulnerability Location

The vulnerability is located in the /application/views/themeOptions/update.php file of LimeSurvey. The relevant code snippet is provided below:


// ... code before
$themeOptionsFields = "

"
. "{$options['category']}"
. "";
foreach ($options['options'] as $option) {
$themeOptionsFields .= viewHelper::getFieldHtml($fields[$option]); // The vulnerable code
}
$themeOptionsFields .= ""
. "";
echo $themeOptionsFields;
// ... code after

Vulnerability Details

In the provided code snippet, the variable $fields[$option] is not properly sanitized before being passed to the viewHelper::getFieldHtml() function. This opens the door for an attacker to inject malicious SQL queries and potentially compromise the database.

Exploitation Steps

1. The attacker sends a specially crafted HTTP request to the LimeSurvey application, targeting the /application/views/themeOptions/update.php component with malicious SQL queries.
2. The application does not properly validate or sanitize the user input, allowing the SQL injection to pass through.
3. The malicious SQL query gets executed in the application's database, leading to data theft, unauthorized access, or even complete control of the target application.

Mitigation

To mitigate this vulnerability, it is recommended to upgrade to the latest version of LimeSurvey, which contains patches for known vulnerabilities such as CVE-2022-43279. Additionally, proper input validation and sanitization should be implemented on the application side to prevent future instances of SQL injection vulnerabilities.

Original References

- CVE-2022-43279 Details: https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-43279
- LimeSurvey GitHub Repository: https://github.com/LimeSurvey/LimeSurvey
- LimeSurvey Official Website: https://www.limesurvey.org/
- OWASP SQL Injection Prevention Cheat Sheet: https://cheatsheetseries.owasp.org/cheatsheets/SQL_Injection_Prevention_Cheat_Sheet.html

Conclusion

CVE-2022-43279 is a critical SQL injection vulnerability in LimeSurvey v5.4.4, which can potentially put any organization's sensitive data at risk. To ensure data security and mitigate such vulnerabilities, it is essential to keep the software up-to-date, implement proper input validation and sanitization, and follow secure coding practices. Be sure to monitor any related security updates and stay informed of any potential threats that may affect your applications.

Timeline

Published on: 11/15/2022 21:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 11/17/2022 04:59:00 UTC