CVE-2017-14238 in Dolibarr
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in admin/menus/edit.php in Dolibarr ERP/CRM version 6.0.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the menuId parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14238 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Dolibarr ERP/CRM platform version 6.0.0, specifically affecting the administrative menu editing functionality. This vulnerability exists in the file admin/menus/edit.php and manifests through the menuId parameter which fails to properly validate or sanitize user input before incorporating it into SQL database queries. The flaw enables remote attackers to manipulate the underlying database by injecting malicious SQL commands through crafted input values, potentially compromising the entire database infrastructure.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and improper parameter handling within the application's database interaction layer. The menuId parameter receives user-supplied data without proper sanitization or prepared statement implementation, creating an avenue for attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the backend database. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws where untrusted data is directly incorporated into SQL queries without proper escaping or parameterization. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can leverage this weakness from outside the network perimeter without requiring local access or authentication credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation could lead to complete database compromise, unauthorized data modification, privilege escalation, and potential system takeover. Attackers could extract sensitive information including user credentials, financial records, customer data, and business-critical information stored within the Dolibarr system. The administrative context of the vulnerable endpoint amplifies the risk since it provides access to core system configuration and management functions, potentially allowing attackers to establish persistent access or disrupt business operations. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1071.004 which covers application layer protocol manipulation and T1190 which addresses exploitation of remote services through SQL injection attacks.
Organizations utilizing Dolibarr ERP/CRM version 6.0.0 should immediately implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability. The primary remediation involves applying the official security patch released by Dolibarr developers, which typically includes proper input validation and parameterized query implementations. Additionally, network-level protections such as web application firewalls should be configured to monitor and block suspicious SQL injection patterns targeting the vulnerable menuId parameter. Database access controls must be reviewed to ensure least privilege principles are enforced, limiting the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and input validation testing should be implemented to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of keeping all enterprise applications updated with the latest security patches and maintaining comprehensive security monitoring to detect exploitation attempts in real-time.