Source: cve@mitre.org
LimeSurvey 3.21.1 is affected by cross-site scripting (XSS) in the Add Participants Function (First and last name parameters). When the survey participant being edited, e.g. by an administrative user, the JavaScript code will be executed in the browser.
LimeSurvey 3.21.1 is vulnerable to a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack, allowing attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code into the application. This vulnerability enables attackers to potentially steal user credentials, redirect users to malicious websites, or deface the application, impacting the confidentiality and integrity of user data.
Step 1: Payload Delivery: An attacker crafts a malicious payload containing JavaScript code (e.g., <script>alert('XSS')</script>) and injects it into the 'First Name' or 'Last Name' fields when adding a new participant or editing an existing one.
Step 2: Data Storage: The attacker's payload is stored within the LimeSurvey database, associated with the participant's record.
Step 3: Administrative Access: An administrative user accesses the participant management section of LimeSurvey, either viewing the participant list or editing the participant record.
Step 4: Payload Execution: The LimeSurvey application renders the participant's details, including the attacker-controlled 'First Name' or 'Last Name' fields. Because the input is not properly sanitized, the injected JavaScript code executes within the administrator's browser, triggering the XSS vulnerability.
Step 5: Exploitation: The executed JavaScript code can perform various malicious actions, such as stealing the administrator's session cookies, redirecting the administrator to a phishing site, or defacing the LimeSurvey application.
The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the 'Add Participants' function of LimeSurvey. Specifically, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input (first and last names) before rendering it within the HTML context. This allows an attacker to inject arbitrary JavaScript code within these fields. When an administrative user views or edits a participant record containing the malicious payload, the injected JavaScript executes in the user's browser, leading to the XSS vulnerability. The root cause is a lack of HTML encoding or input sanitization on the user-provided data before it is displayed on the participant management page.
While no specific APTs are directly linked to this CVE, the ease of exploitation and potential impact make it attractive to various threat actors. This type of vulnerability is often exploited by opportunistic attackers and could be used as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks. CISA KEV status: Not Listed
Monitor web server logs for unusual HTTP requests containing JavaScript code within the 'First Name' or 'Last Name' parameters of the participant management functions.
Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules to detect and block XSS payloads.
Analyze network traffic for suspicious JavaScript execution, especially within the context of administrative user sessions.
Review application source code for proper input validation and output encoding.
Monitor for changes to the participant management pages that might indicate defacement or malicious code injection.
Upgrade to a patched version of LimeSurvey (version 3.21.2 or later).
Implement input validation to sanitize user-supplied data, ensuring that potentially dangerous characters (e.g., <, >, &, ', ") are properly handled.
Apply output encoding (e.g., HTML encoding) to all user-supplied data before rendering it in the HTML context.
Use a Content Security Policy (CSP) to restrict the execution of JavaScript code to trusted sources, mitigating the impact of XSS attacks.
Regularly scan the application for vulnerabilities using static and dynamic analysis tools.
Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to filter malicious requests.