CVE-2017-18259 in ERP CRM
Summary
by MITRE
Dolibarr ERP/CRM is affected by stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) in versions through 7.0.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/23/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-18259 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within Dolibarr ERP/CRM software versions up to 7.0.0. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user input within the customer management module, specifically affecting the customer name field where malicious scripts can be persistently injected and executed. The flaw enables attackers to store malicious code within the application's database through legitimate user input mechanisms, making it particularly dangerous as the payload executes automatically whenever the compromised data is rendered to other users. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize user input, creating a persistent XSS attack vector that can compromise user sessions and potentially lead to full system compromise. This issue directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of business data within the ERP/CRM environment, as unauthorized parties can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when users enter specially crafted malicious scripts into the customer name field during customer creation or modification processes. These scripts are stored in the database without proper sanitization or encoding, allowing them to be executed in the context of other users' browsers when the compromised customer data is displayed. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that even if the initial attacker is no longer present, the malicious payload continues to affect any user who views the compromised data, creating a persistent threat vector. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including the injection of javascript payloads that can steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. This attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which describes social engineering through malicious content delivery, and T1059.007 which covers scripting through web shells.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-18259 extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access to business systems and potentially escalate privileges within the ERP/CRM environment. Organizations using affected Dolibarr versions face significant risk of data breaches, unauthorized transactions, and potential system compromise through session hijacking or credential theft. The vulnerability affects business continuity by potentially disrupting customer management processes and exposing sensitive financial and operational data. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to create backdoors, monitor user activities, or manipulate business data, making it particularly dangerous for organizations handling confidential customer information, financial records, or proprietary business data. The impact is amplified by the fact that ERP/CRM systems typically contain highly sensitive information and serve as central points of access for business operations, making successful exploitation potentially catastrophic for organizational security posture.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-18259 require immediate action to address the vulnerable software version, including upgrading to Dolibarr versions that have patched this vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent script injection, particularly in fields that handle user-generated content. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script execution, while regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect unusual data access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Security awareness training for users should emphasize the dangers of clicking on suspicious links or entering untrusted data into business applications. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls to filter malicious payloads and maintain detailed logging of user activities within the ERP/CRM environment to enable forensic analysis in case of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of keeping business applications updated and implementing robust input sanitization practices as outlined in OWASP top ten security principles.