CVE-2009-3247 in vtiger
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Activities module in vtiger CRM 5.0.4 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the action parameter to phprint.php. NOTE: the query_string vector is already covered by CVE-2008-3101.3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2025
The CVE-2009-3247 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Activities module of vtiger CRM version 5.0.4. This vulnerability specifically targets the phprint.php script and exploits the action parameter to execute malicious web scripts or HTML content. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws. The attack vector leverages the web application's insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms, allowing remote attackers to inject malicious code that executes in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input from the action parameter in phprint.php. This parameter is processed without adequate validation or encoding, creating an environment where malicious scripts can be injected and subsequently executed by unsuspecting users who view the affected page. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input handling practices and highlights the importance of implementing proper data sanitization and output encoding controls. The attack requires no authentication and can be exploited through simple web requests, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple users interact with the CRM system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, data theft, and redirection to malicious websites. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal user credentials, access sensitive customer data, or manipulate the CRM functionality to gain unauthorized access to the system. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire vtiger CRM deployment, potentially compromising business-critical information and undermining user trust in the application. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566 for Phishing, as it enables attackers to execute malicious payloads through web-based attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-3247 should include immediate patching of the vtiger CRM application to version 5.1.0 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application, ensuring that all user-supplied data is sanitized before processing. The implementation of Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide additional protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous requests to phprint.php and other vulnerable endpoints. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other modules of the CRM system. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing a comprehensive vulnerability management program that includes regular security updates and penetration testing to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities in web applications.