CVE-2014-7987 in EspoCRM
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in EspoCRM before 2.6.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the desc parameter in an errors action to install/index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2022
The CVE-2014-7987 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in EspoCRM versions prior to 2.6.0, specifically affecting the installation process of the customer relationship management platform. This vulnerability resides within the error handling mechanism of the installation script, where user-supplied input is not properly sanitized before being rendered in the web interface. The affected parameter desc within the errors action of install/index.php provides an attack vector that enables malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code in the context of a victim's browser session.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that allows attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The specific nature of this flaw demonstrates poor input validation and output encoding practices within the EspoCRM installation module. When an attacker crafts a malicious payload and submits it through the desc parameter, the application fails to properly escape or filter the input before displaying it in the error message context, creating an opportunity for persistent XSS attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, deface web applications, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious sites. In the context of an installation process, this vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited during the initial setup phase when administrators might be less vigilant about input validation. The attack requires no authentication and can be executed remotely, making it a significant threat to organizations deploying EspoCRM installations. The vulnerability can be exploited by crafting a specially formatted URL with malicious content in the desc parameter, which when processed by the vulnerable installation script, executes the injected code in the victim's browser.
Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability in relation to the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as the vulnerability enables attackers to execute arbitrary scripts. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including upgrading to EspoCRM version 2.6.0 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the input sanitization issues. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application code can prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices, particularly around user input handling in error reporting and installation modules. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional layers of protection against such attacks, while maintaining regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning to identify potential weaknesses in their web applications.