CVE-2018-20816 in SuiteCRM
Summary
by MITRE
An XSS combined with CSRF vulnerability discovered in SalesAgility SuiteCRM 7.x before 7.8.24 and 7.10.x before 7.10.11 leads to cookie stealing, aka session hijacking. This issue affects the "add dashboard pages" feature where users can receive a malicious attack through a phished URL, with script executed.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/27/2023
The CVE-2018-20816 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in SalesAgility SuiteCRM that combines cross-site scripting and cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities, creating a severe threat vector for session hijacking and cookie theft. This vulnerability specifically targets the dashboard page addition functionality within SuiteCRM versions 7.x prior to 7.8.24 and 7.10.x prior to 7.10.11, making it particularly dangerous for organizations relying on this customer relationship management platform. The flaw allows attackers to execute malicious scripts through phishing URLs, exploiting the web application's insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data theft, as it enables attackers to hijack active user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive customer information and business data. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and additionally aligns with CWE-352 which covers cross-site request forgery issues. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1566 for initial access through spearphishing and T1078 for valid accounts, as successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized access using stolen session cookies. The attack scenario typically involves an attacker crafting a malicious URL that, when visited by an authenticated user, automatically executes malicious JavaScript code through the vulnerable dashboard feature. This code can steal session cookies, which are then transmitted to the attacker's server, enabling session hijacking attacks. The vulnerability's exploitation is particularly concerning because it requires no privileged access from the attacker, as the malicious script executes within the context of the victim's authenticated session. The attack surface is widened by the fact that users may unknowingly click on phishing links that contain these malicious payloads, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently interact with external links. Organizations using SuiteCRM versions prior to the patched releases are at significant risk of unauthorized access and data breaches, as the vulnerability can be exploited through simple web-based attacks without requiring complex exploitation techniques.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user inputs within the dashboard page addition feature. When users attempt to add new dashboard pages, the application fails to properly validate and encode user-supplied data, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious scripts. The XSS component allows for arbitrary script execution in the victim's browser context, while the CSRF aspect enables the attacker to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of the authenticated user. The combination of these two vulnerabilities creates a powerful attack vector that can be exploited through various means including email phishing campaigns, compromised websites, or malicious advertisements. The vulnerability's exploitation is facilitated by the web application's trust in user inputs, particularly within the dashboard management interface where users expect to be able to add custom content. Attackers can leverage this trust by embedding malicious JavaScript within dashboard elements that are then executed when the dashboard is rendered. The session hijacking aspect occurs because the stolen cookies often contain session identifiers that are sufficient to impersonate legitimate users within the SuiteCRM application. This vulnerability is particularly concerning from a security compliance standpoint as it violates fundamental web application security principles and can result in regulatory violations under data protection frameworks such as gdpr and hipaa. The attack requires minimal sophistication from the threat actor and can be automated, making it a preferred target for both targeted attacks and mass exploitation campaigns.
Organizations affected by CVE-2018-20816 should implement immediate mitigation strategies to protect their SuiteCRM installations from exploitation. The primary and most effective mitigation is to upgrade to SuiteCRM versions 7.8.24 or 7.10.11, which contain patches addressing both the XSS and CSRF vulnerabilities. This upgrade process should be prioritized at the highest level of security operations, as the vulnerability can lead to complete system compromise. Network-level mitigations should include implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script payloads, particularly those targeting dashboard management features. Input validation and output encoding should be enhanced across all user-facing interfaces to prevent script injection attempts. Security teams should also implement monitoring for suspicious dashboard creation activities and anomalous cookie usage patterns that might indicate session hijacking attempts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications within the organization's infrastructure. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of user education and awareness programs, as phishing campaigns often exploit these types of web application flaws. Additional defensive measures include implementing content security policies that restrict script execution and using secure cookie attributes such as httponly and secure flags to prevent cookie theft. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication as an additional layer of protection against session hijacking attacks. From an incident response perspective, security teams should establish procedures for detecting and responding to potential exploitation attempts, including monitoring for unusual dashboard creation patterns and unauthorized access attempts that could indicate successful session hijacking. The vulnerability's remediation should be part of a broader application security strategy that includes regular security patch management, vulnerability assessments, and secure coding practices to prevent similar issues in future development cycles.