Vulnerability · Published Jul 16, 2025 · Assigned by VulnCheck
CVE-2025-34120LimeSurvey 2.0+ - 2.06+ Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Download via Serialized Backup Payload
High 8.7
In plain English
A high-severity path traversal in LimeSurvey from LimeSurvey GmbH. Proof-of-concept exploit code is public. The chance it is exploited in the next 30 days is estimated at 2.0% (higher than 81% of all known vulnerabilities). Ready-made attack tooling exists: Metasploit.
Official description
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.
Affected products (as reported)
| Vendor | Product | Versions |
|---|---|---|
| LimeSurvey GmbH | LimeSurvey | 2.0+ – through 2.06+ Build 151014 |
Weakness: CWE-22, CWE-306 · Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
References
- https://web.archive.org/web/20210123073627/https://www.limesurvey.org/blog/22-security/136-limesurvey-security-advisory-10-2015 vendor-advisory, patch
- https://sec-consult.com/vulnerability-lab/advisory/multiple-critical-vulnerabilities-in-lime-survey/ third-party-advisory, technical-description
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/master/modules/auxiliary/admin/http/limesurvey_file_download.rb exploit
- https://packetstorm.news/files/id/180855 exploit
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/limesurvey-unauthenticated-arbitrary-file-download third-party-advisory