CVE-2005-4086 in Sugar Suite
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in acceptDecline.php in Sugar Suite Open Source Customer Relationship Management (SugarCRM) 4.0 beta and earlier allows remote attackers to include arbitrary local files via ".." sequences in the beanFiles array parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4086 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the Sugar Suite Open Source Customer Relationship Management system version 4.0 beta and earlier. This security weakness resides in the acceptDecline.php script which processes user input through the beanFiles array parameter. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly restrict file path traversal sequences, specifically the ".." character sequences commonly used in directory traversal attacks.
The technical exploitation of this flaw occurs when remote attackers manipulate the beanFiles array parameter to include malicious path traversal sequences that navigate outside the intended directory boundaries. This allows attackers to access arbitrary local files on the server filesystem, potentially exposing sensitive data including configuration files, database credentials, application source code, and other confidential information. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-22 - Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, which is a well-documented weakness in software systems that fail to properly validate and sanitize file paths.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations utilizing the affected SugarCRM versions. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute unauthorized file access operations that may lead to complete system compromise. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as successful exploitation could enable attackers to read sensitive configuration files containing database connection strings, encryption keys, and other critical system information. Additionally, the vulnerability may facilitate further attack vectors such as code execution or privilege escalation depending on the system configuration and file permissions.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is particularly concerning given that it affects the core CRM functionality and operates at the file system level. Remote attackers do not require any special privileges or authentication to exploit this weakness, making it highly dangerous in environments where the application is accessible from untrusted networks. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 - File and Directory Discovery, as it enables adversaries to enumerate and access arbitrary files on the target system. Organizations should consider implementing comprehensive input validation measures, including strict parameter sanitization, path normalization, and access control mechanisms to prevent unauthorized file system access.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of the affected SugarCRM versions to the latest stable releases that contain proper input validation and sanitization. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls with content filtering capabilities can help detect and block malicious traversal sequences. System administrators should also conduct thorough security reviews of all file access points within the application, implement principle of least privilege for file system access, and establish proper logging and monitoring mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be performed to identify similar weaknesses in other components of the system architecture.