# CVE-2020-11455: Path traversal in n/a

> Attackers can exploit a path traversal flaw in LimeSurvey to read or modify arbitrary files on the server.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 1 Apr 2020
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** BIT-limesurvey-2020-11455, GHSA-x533-9x59-8hwv

## What is CVE-2020-11455?

CVE-2020-11455 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in Limesurvey Limesurvey, published on 1 Apr 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

LimeSurvey before 4.1.12+200324 contains a path traversal vulnerability in application/controllers/admin/LimeSurveyFileManager.php.

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-11455?

1 open source package ship an affected version, including limesurvey. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `limesurvey` | Bitnami | All versions | 4.1.12, 4.1.12, 4.1.13 |

Products: Limesurvey Limesurvey.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-11455?

Upgrade limesurvey to a fixed version for your release line: 4.1.12 or 4.1.13.

## Is CVE-2020-11455 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2020-11455 exists.

Public exploit code:

- LimeSurvey Zip Path Traversals (metasploit)
- LimeSurvey 4.1.11 - 'File Manager' Path Traversal (exploitdb)
- LimeSurvey 4.1.11 - Local File Inclusion (nuclei): http/cves/2020/CVE-2020-11455.yaml

## 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-2019-16184](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16184/): Code injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-9960](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-9960/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-11455 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-11455 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in Limesurvey Limesurvey, published on 1 Apr 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2020-11455 exists.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- limesurvey (Bitnami): affected all versions; fixed in 4.1.12, 4.1.12, 4.1.13

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-2020-11455/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-11455/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-11455
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-11455
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-11455

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-11455/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.