CVE-2013-3213 in vTiger
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in vTiger CRM 5.0.0 through 5.4.0 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) picklist_name parameter in the get_picklists method to soap/customerportal.php, (2) where parameter in the get_tickets_list method to soap/customerportal.php, or (3) emailaddress parameter in the SearchContactsByEmail method to soap/vtigerolservice.php; or remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (4) emailaddress parameter in the SearchContactsByEmail method to soap/thunderbirdplugin.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/09/2026
The vulnerability CVE-2013-3213 represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting vTiger CRM versions 5.0.0 through 5.4.0, demonstrating a fundamental weakness in input validation and query construction within the application's web services interface. This vulnerability falls under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection attacks, where improperly sanitized user inputs are directly incorporated into database queries without adequate sanitization or parameterization. The affected endpoints include multiple SOAP service methods that handle customer portal functionality, making this a particularly dangerous vulnerability as it can be exploited by both remote unauthenticated attackers and authenticated users with varying privileges.
The technical exploitation occurs through four distinct attack vectors within the vTiger CRM SOAP web services layer. The first vector targets the picklist_name parameter in the get_picklists method within soap/customerportal.php, where an attacker can inject malicious SQL code that gets executed against the underlying database. The second vector exploits the where parameter in the get_tickets_list method at the same endpoint, while the third and fourth vectors target the emailaddress parameter in SearchContactsByEmail methods across different service endpoints soap/vtigerolservice.php and soap/thunderbirdplugin.php respectively. These attack surfaces are particularly concerning as they leverage legitimate application functions that process user-provided data, making the exploitation more difficult to detect through traditional network monitoring.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation allows attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands with the privileges of the database user account. This can result in complete database compromise, including unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion of sensitive customer information, employee records, and business data. The vulnerability affects organizations using vTiger CRM for customer relationship management, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to access valuable business intelligence. Additionally, the fact that this vulnerability can be exploited by remote unauthenticated users significantly increases the attack surface and potential impact compared to authenticated-only exploits.
Organizations should immediately implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability. The primary remediation involves applying the vendor-provided security patches or upgrading to versions of vTiger CRM that have addressed these SQL injection flaws. Input validation and parameterized queries should be implemented across all web service endpoints to prevent user input from being directly incorporated into database commands. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers, while regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications and demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in preventing SQL injection attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring and intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts and maintain comprehensive audit logs of database access patterns.