# CVE-2014-5017: SQL injection in n/a

> Remote attackers with admin privileges can execute arbitrary SQL commands via the sidx parameter in LimeSurvey, potentially compromising survey data.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 21 Jul 2014
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-f764-r8p2-m2gv

## What is CVE-2014-5017?

CVE-2014-5017 is a high-severity SQL injection vulnerability in Limesurvey Limesurvey, published on 21 Jul 2014. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

SQL injection vulnerability in CPDB in application/controllers/admin/participantsaction.php in LimeSurvey 2.05+ Build 140618 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the sidx parameter in a JSON request to admin/participants/sa/getParticipants_json, related to a search parameter.

Weakness: CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2014-5017?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Limesurvey Limesurvey.

## How do I fix CVE-2014-5017?

No fix has been published for CVE-2014-5017 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2014-5017 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2014-5017 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Limesurvey Limesurvey

- [CVE-2025-56422](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-56422/): Deserialization in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2022-48008](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-48008/): File upload in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-25019](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-25019/): SQL injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-11455](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-11455/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-16184](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16184/): Code injection in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2014-5017 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2014-5017 is a high-severity SQL injection vulnerability in Limesurvey Limesurvey, published on 21 Jul 2014. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2014-5017 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Limesurvey Limesurvey. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-5017/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-5017/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2014-5017
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-5017
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2014-5017

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-5017/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.