CVE-2024-6933 is a SQL injection vulnerability identified in LimeSurvey version 6.5.14-240624 within the function actionUpdateSurveyLocaleSettingsGeneralSettings, located in the Survey General Settings Handler component. The vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of the 'Language' parameter passed to the /index.php?r=admin/database/index/updatesurveylocalesettings_generalsettings endpoint. This flaw permits remote attackers to inject arbitrary SQL commands into the backend database without requiring authentication or user interaction, exploiting the application's failure to properly validate or escape input data. The vulnerability has a CVSS 4.0 base score of 5.3, indicating medium severity, with attack vector network-based, low attack complexity, no privileges required, and no user interaction needed. The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is limited but non-negligible, as attackers could manipulate survey data or extract sensitive information. Although no confirmed exploits are observed in the wild, a public exploit has been published, increasing the likelihood of exploitation attempts. The issue is fixed in LimeSurvey version 6.6.2+240827, with the patch identified by commit d656d2c7980b7642560977f4780e64533a68e13d. Organizations running vulnerable LimeSurvey instances should upgrade promptly to mitigate risk.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion within LimeSurvey databases, potentially exposing sensitive survey data or disrupting survey operations. Given LimeSurvey's use in academic, governmental, and commercial sectors across Europe for data collection and analysis, exploitation could lead to breaches of personal data protected under GDPR, resulting in regulatory penalties and reputational damage. The ability to perform SQL injection remotely without authentication increases the threat level, especially for publicly accessible LimeSurvey installations. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to extract confidential information, alter survey results, or cause denial of service by corrupting database contents. The medium severity rating reflects a moderate but actionable risk, emphasizing the need for timely patching to prevent exploitation that could impact data integrity and availability critical to decision-making processes in European institutions.

To mitigate CVE-2024-6933, European organizations should immediately upgrade LimeSurvey installations to version 6.6.2+240827 or later, which contains the official patch addressing the SQL injection flaw. In addition to patching, organizations should implement strict input validation and sanitization on all user-supplied parameters, especially those related to language or locale settings, to prevent injection attacks. Employing web application firewalls (WAFs) configured to detect and block SQL injection patterns can provide an additional security layer. Regularly audit and monitor database logs for unusual queries or access patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. Restrict access to the LimeSurvey administration interface to trusted networks or VPNs to reduce exposure. Conduct periodic security assessments and penetration tests focusing on web application vulnerabilities. Finally, ensure that backups of survey data are maintained securely and tested for integrity to enable recovery in case of data corruption or loss.