CVE-2018-19992 in Dolibarr
Summary
by MITRE
A stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Dolibarr 8.0.2 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the "address" (POST) or "town" (POST) parameter to adherents/type.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/23/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-19992 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within Dolibarr version 8.0.2, a widely used open-source ERP and CRM system. This vulnerability specifically affects the adherents/type.php endpoint and manifests when authenticated users submit malicious content through the address or town POST parameters. The flaw enables attackers to persistently inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on this platform. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize user input, which directly enables XSS attacks that can compromise user sessions and data integrity.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an authenticated user context, meaning that attackers must first obtain valid credentials to the Dolibarr system. However, once inside the system, the attacker can manipulate the address or town fields during user or member registration processes, storing malicious scripts that will execute whenever other users view the affected records. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious code persists in the database and executes every time the affected page is loaded, unlike reflected XSS where the attack payload must be delivered through external means. This characteristic makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users over extended periods without requiring repeated attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-19992 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can lead to complete session hijacking, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within the organization's network. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, access sensitive customer information, modify user permissions, or even escalate privileges within the Dolibarr environment. The vulnerability affects organizations using Dolibarr for member management, customer relationship management, and business process automation, making it particularly concerning for businesses handling sensitive personal and financial data. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 (Scripting) and T1531 (Account Access Removal) as attackers can use the stored XSS to establish persistent access and potentially compromise user accounts.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied data, particularly in fields that are displayed in user interfaces. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all input parameters through proper HTML escaping and implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit script execution. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the Dolibarr system or related applications. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation as outlined in OWASP Top Ten 2017 and the principle of defense in depth. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious parameter submissions to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder that even authenticated applications require robust security controls to prevent privilege escalation through client-side attacks, particularly in environments where multiple users interact with shared data repositories.