CVE-2005-3821 in vTiger
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in vTiger CRM 4.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via multiple vectors, including the account name.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2019
The CVE-2005-3821 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in vTiger CRM versions 4.2 and earlier, exposing organizations to significant web application security risks. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the customer relationship management platform, specifically targeting the account name field and other input vectors. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of authenticated users' browsers, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, session hijacking, or further exploitation of the compromised system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic XSS attack vector where user-supplied data flows directly into HTML output without proper sanitization or encoding. In vTiger CRM's case, when account names or other user inputs are displayed on web pages, the application fails to properly escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that, when executed in a victim's browser, can perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or modifying the web page content to deceive users. The vulnerability affects multiple input vectors, indicating a systemic weakness in the application's data handling and sanitization processes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, creating potential pathways for more sophisticated attacks within enterprise environments. Organizations using affected vTiger CRM versions face risks of credential theft, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation when attackers leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that CRM systems typically contain sensitive business data, customer information, and internal communications. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability maps to CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, highlighting the fundamental weakness in input validation and output encoding practices.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as part of the broader ATT&CK framework's initial access and persistence tactics, where attackers exploit web application flaws to gain unauthorized access to systems. The remediation approach requires immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase, particularly focusing on user input handling in account name fields and similar data entry points. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers, employ proper HTML escaping techniques, and conduct comprehensive security testing to identify and address similar vulnerabilities in other input vectors. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of regular security updates and patch management, as vTiger CRM versions beyond 4.2 would likely contain fixes for this specific flaw, making timely upgrades essential for maintaining security posture and compliance with industry standards.