CVE-2025-34120 LimeSurvey 2.0+ - 2.06+ Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Download via Serialized Backup Payload
Unauthenticated attackers can download arbitrary files from the server via a crafted payload in the admin backup endpoint.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2025-34120?
CVE-2025-34120 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in LimeSurvey, published on 16 Jul 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
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.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-34120?
How do I fix CVE-2025-34120?
No fix has been published for CVE-2025-34120 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Upgrade, and resolve every user-supplied path against an allowed base folder before opening it. More about Path traversal.
Is CVE-2025-34120 being exploited?
It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2025-34120 exists.
Public exploit code: 1 Metasploit module.
Sources
Also known as GHSA-66f6-qrfg-wxwr.