CVE-2022-48008Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Remote code execution via crafted PHP plugin upload

Published Jan 27, 2023 · Updated Mar 28, 2025

Unrestricted file upload in LimeSurvey 5.4.15 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code by uploading a crafted PHP plugin. The plugin manager accepts and installs attacker-supplied PHP content without preventing executable files from becoming server-side plugin code. The published assessment treats the upload path as reachable without authentication, and successful exploitation runs attacker-supplied PHP code on the server.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability1.27%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Unrestricted file upload in LimeSurvey 5.4.15 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code by uploading a crafted PHP plugin. The plugin manager accepts and installs attacker-supplied PHP content without preventing executable files from becoming server-side plugin code. The published assessment treats the upload path as reachable without authentication, and successful exploitation runs attacker-supplied PHP code on the server.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-48008
Published
Jan 27, 2023
Updated
Mar 28, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-434, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 27, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 28, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

9.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-434Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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