CVE-2011-5214 in BrowserCRM
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in BrowserCRM 5.100.01 and earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the PATH_INFO to (1) index.php, (2) modules/admin/admin_module_index.php, or (3) modules/calendar/customise_calendar_times.php; login[] parameter to (4) index.php or (5) pub/clients.php; or framed parameter to (6) licence/index.php or (7) licence/view.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/06/2024
The CVE-2011-5214 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting BrowserCRM versions 5.100.01 and earlier, demonstrating a fundamental failure in input validation and output encoding within web applications. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user-supplied data through multiple entry points, specifically targeting the PATH_INFO server variable and various parameter inputs that are not properly sanitized before being rendered in web responses. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or unauthorized actions within the application's security boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of the PATH_INFO parameter and several other input vectors including login[] and framed parameters. When these inputs are processed without proper sanitization, they create opportunities for attackers to inject malicious HTML or JavaScript code that executes in the victim's browser context. The vulnerability affects multiple modules within the BrowserCRM application, indicating a systemic issue in the application's input handling architecture rather than isolated code flaws. This widespread impact suggests that the application's security controls were not consistently applied across different functional areas, creating multiple attack surfaces for exploitation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on BrowserCRM for customer relationship management and business operations. The ability to inject arbitrary web script or HTML means attackers could potentially steal user sessions, modify application data, or redirect users to malicious sites. The attack vector requires no special privileges or authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by anyone with access to the vulnerable application. The impact extends beyond simple data theft to include potential system compromise, as attackers could leverage the XSS vulnerability to escalate privileges or gain deeper access to the underlying infrastructure.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 Cross-site Scripting and follows patterns consistent with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to address this vulnerability, including proper sanitization of all user inputs and implementing Content Security Policy headers. The remediation strategy should involve upgrading to BrowserCRM version 5.100.02 or later, which contains the necessary patches to prevent the injection of malicious code through the identified parameters. Additionally, implementing proper web application firewall rules and conducting regular security testing can help detect and prevent similar vulnerabilities in other applications within the organization's attack surface.