CVE-2011-4559 in vTiger
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the Calendar module in vTiger CRM 5.2.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the onlyforuser parameter in an index action to index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/23/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4559 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the calendar module of vTiger CRM versions 5.2.1 and earlier. This weakness resides in the application's handling of user input through the onlyforuser parameter during calendar index operations, creating a pathway for remote attackers to manipulate the underlying database through crafted malicious input. The vulnerability specifically affects the index.php script when processing calendar actions, making it a direct threat to the integrity and confidentiality of customer relationship management data stored within the system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through improper input validation and sanitization within the calendar module's parameter handling mechanism. When the onlyforuser parameter is passed to the index.php script during an index action, the application fails to adequately sanitize this input before incorporating it into sql query constructions. This oversight allows attackers to inject malicious sql code that gets executed by the database engine, potentially enabling complete database compromise. The vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection vulnerabilities, and aligns with attack techniques documented in the mitre ATT&CK framework under TA0006 privilege escalation and TA0002 execution phases.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive customer information. Attackers could potentially extract, modify, or delete critical business data including customer records, contact information, and business communications stored within the vTiger CRM system. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access to the system, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations relying on web-based crm solutions. Organizations using affected versions face significant risk of data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and potential financial losses from compromised customer information.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of vTiger CRM that address this vulnerability, implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious sql injection attempts, and applying proper input validation controls to all user-supplied parameters. The recommended approach involves comprehensive parameter sanitization, use of prepared statements, and input filtering to prevent malicious sql code execution. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their crm systems, implement network segmentation to limit access to critical applications, and establish monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools to identify similar injection flaws across their entire application portfolio, as sql injection remains one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application vulnerabilities according to owasp top ten project classifications.