CVE-2022-48008
Published: 27 January 2023
Summary
CVE-2022-48008 is a critical-severity Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type (CWE-434) vulnerability in Limesurvey Limesurvey. Its CVSS base score is 9.8 (Critical).
Operationally, ranked in the top 9.3% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.
Deeper analysis
LimeSurvey version 5.4.15 is affected by an arbitrary file upload vulnerability in its plugin manager, tracked as CVE-2022-48008 and assigned CWE-434. The flaw allows a crafted PHP file to be uploaded, resulting in arbitrary code execution on the server and carrying a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 reflecting network-accessible attack conditions with no required privileges or user interaction.
Remote attackers can exploit the weakness without authentication by submitting the malicious plugin file through the exposed manager interface, thereby gaining the ability to execute code that impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the LimeSurvey installation.
Public proof-of-concept repositories on GitHub detail the plugin-upload path to remote code execution but contain no official mitigation guidance or patch references. The associated EPSS score has remained flat at 0.0576 with no material rise since publication.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2022-50722
Vulnerability details
An arbitrary file upload vulnerability in the plugin manager of LimeSurvey v5.4.15 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted PHP file.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
No named actor attribution yet. ATT&CK technique mapping in progress for this CVE.
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Likely Mitigating Controls AI
Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.
Requiring identifiable owners for portable devices reduces the attack surface for unrestricted uploads of dangerous file types via anonymous media.
Dangerous file uploads can be detonated in the chamber to determine malice before any production write or execution occurs.
Prevents unrestricted writing of arbitrary or malicious firmware by keeping hardware write-protect enabled except under tightly controlled manual procedures.
Scans files from external sources on download/open/execute, blocking unrestricted uploads of dangerous file types.