CVE-2018-5985 in LiveCRM SaaS Cloud Component
Summary
by MITRE
SQL Injection exists in the LiveCRM SaaS Cloud 1.0 component for Joomla! via an r=site/login&company_id= request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/13/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5985 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the LiveCRM SaaS Cloud 1.0 component for Joomla! which exposes organizations to significant data compromise risks. This vulnerability specifically manifests through the r=site/login&company_id= parameter in the web application's request handling mechanism, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands into the database query execution flow. The flaw resides in the improper sanitization of user-supplied input parameters, particularly within the company_id variable that is directly incorporated into database queries without adequate validation or escaping mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input through the company_id parameter, which gets processed by the vulnerable Joomla! component without proper input filtering or parameterized query construction. This allows attackers to manipulate the underlying database queries and potentially execute unauthorized database operations including data extraction, modification, or deletion. The vulnerability falls under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it targets the authentication and login component of the CRM system, potentially enabling unauthorized access to customer data and business information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete system compromise and business disruption. Organizations utilizing the affected LiveCRM SaaS Cloud 1.0 component face risks of unauthorized user access, data leakage of sensitive customer information, modification of business records, and potential denial of service conditions. The vulnerability's presence in the login component specifically targets the most critical access control mechanism, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges and gain administrative access to the entire CRM system. This creates cascading security implications as compromised access could lead to further lateral movement within the organization's network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-5985 should prioritize immediate patching of the vulnerable Joomla! component and implementation of proper input validation controls. Organizations must ensure all user-supplied parameters undergo rigorous sanitization and validation before being processed in database queries. The implementation of parameterized queries or prepared statements should be mandatory for all database interactions, eliminating the possibility of SQL injection through malformed input. Network-based protections including web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for suspicious query patterns. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the broader application ecosystem, as the flaw demonstrates a pattern of inadequate input handling that may exist elsewhere in the software architecture. Organizations should also implement principle of least privilege access controls and regular audit logging to detect unauthorized access attempts and data manipulation activities.