CVE-2014-5521 in XRMS
Summary
by MITRE
plugins/useradmin/fingeruser.php in XRMS CRM, possibly 1.99.2, allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code via shell metacharacters in the username parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5521 affects XRMS CRM version 1.99.2 and potentially other iterations within the same release line. This issue resides within the fingeruser.php plugin located in the useradmin directory of the application's plugin structure. The flaw represents a critical security weakness that enables authenticated attackers to perform remote code execution through deliberate manipulation of input parameters. The vulnerability specifically targets the username parameter within the fingeruser.php script, which fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing. This oversight creates an avenue for malicious actors who have already established authentication credentials to escalate their privileges and execute arbitrary commands on the underlying system.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-77, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in a command. The flaw occurs when the application processes user input without adequate validation or sanitization, allowing shell metacharacters to be interpreted as command instructions rather than simple text input. When an authenticated user submits a specially crafted username containing shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks, the application passes this unfiltered data directly to system commands, resulting in arbitrary code execution. This represents a classic command injection vulnerability that leverages the application's legitimate functionality to execute unauthorized operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-5521 extends beyond simple data compromise, as it provides attackers with full system access capabilities. Once authenticated, an attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute system commands with the privileges of the web application user, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire CRM system, as attackers can access sensitive customer data, modify records, install backdoors, or exfiltrate information. The remote execution capability means that attackers do not need physical access to the system, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in networked environments where the application may be exposed to untrusted users.
Security practitioners should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability. The primary remediation involves input validation and sanitization of all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in system command execution contexts. Organizations should apply the vendor-provided patches or upgrade to versions that address this specific flaw. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and monitoring for unusual command execution patterns can help detect exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving command and scripting interpreter execution, specifically T1059.001 for command and T1059.003 for scripting interpreters, highlighting the need for robust input validation and privilege separation measures to prevent unauthorized code execution.