CVE-2006-4588 in vtiger
Summary
by MITRE
vtiger CRM 4.2.4, and possibly earlier, allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and access administrative modules via a direct request to index.php with a modified module parameter, as demonstrated using the Settings module.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/03/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-4588 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw in vtiger CRM version 4.2.4 and potentially earlier releases. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and access control mechanisms within the application's module handling system. The flaw allows remote attackers to circumvent the standard authentication process by manipulating the module parameter in direct requests to the index.php endpoint, specifically targeting administrative modules such as the Settings module. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental weakness in the application's security architecture where the system fails to properly verify user permissions before granting access to sensitive administrative functions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the lack of proper authorization checks within the vtiger CRM framework. When a user makes a direct request to index.php with a modified module parameter, the application fails to validate whether the requesting user possesses the necessary privileges to access the target module. This flaw operates at the application logic level where the system assumes that legitimate requests will come through the proper user interface pathways rather than direct API calls or parameter manipulation. The vulnerability specifically affects the Settings module, which typically contains critical administrative functions including user management, system configuration, and security settings. This represents a classic case of insufficient access control validation that aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in software applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for organizations utilizing affected vtiger CRM versions. An unauthenticated attacker can gain full administrative access to the system, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and unauthorized modifications to critical business data. The remote nature of this exploit means that attackers can leverage this vulnerability from any location without requiring physical access or prior credentials. This type of vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1078 Valid Accounts for initial access and T1566 Phishing for initial compromise, while also enabling subsequent lateral movement and privilege escalation activities. Organizations may face significant regulatory and compliance violations if sensitive customer data or business-critical information is accessed or modified through this vulnerability.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches provided by vtiger, implementing proper input validation for all module parameters, and establishing robust access control mechanisms. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls should be configured to monitor and block suspicious parameter manipulation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify other potential access control vulnerabilities within their CRM systems. The vulnerability highlights the importance of implementing defense-in-depth strategies including role-based access control, regular security audits, and proper input sanitization practices. System administrators should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect unusual access patterns and parameter manipulation attempts that could indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security training for developers on secure coding practices and proper access control implementation remains essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future releases.