CVE-2019-14329 in EspoCRM
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in EspoCRM before 5.6.6. There is stored XSS due to lack of filtration of user-supplied data in Create Task. A malicious attacker can modify the parameter name to contain JavaScript code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/13/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-14329 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within EspoCRM versions prior to 5.6.6. This security weakness arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly filter user-supplied data when creating tasks within the system. The vulnerability specifically affects the task creation functionality where the application does not adequately sanitize the name parameter, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code that persists in the database and executes when other users view the task.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the task name field during the creation process. When an attacker submits a task with a specially crafted name parameter containing malicious javascript code, the application stores this data without proper sanitization. Subsequently, when other users access the task list or view the specific task, the stored javascript code executes in their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further malicious activities. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically classified as a stored XSS variant where the malicious payload is permanently stored on the server.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or display issues. Attackers can leverage this weakness to establish persistent footholds within the EspoCRM environment, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive customer data, modifying business processes, or conducting phishing attacks against legitimate users. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious code remains active until manually removed from the database, providing attackers with extended periods of opportunity to exploit the system. This vulnerability directly aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1566 for phishing attacks and T1071 for application layer protocol usage, as the compromised system can be used to facilitate further attacks.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of EspoCRM should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of the vendor-provided patch version 5.6.6 or later. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied data, particularly in fields where HTML content is not expected. Implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection layers against XSS attacks, while regular security audits of input handling mechanisms should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging. Network monitoring solutions should also be configured to detect anomalous behavior patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, and user access controls should be reviewed to limit the scope of potential damage from compromised accounts.