CVE-2019-14330 in EspoCRM
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in EspoCRM before 5.6.6. Stored XSS exists due to lack of filtration of user-supplied data in Create Case. A malicious attacker can modify the firstName and lastName to contain JavaScript code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/13/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-14330 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within EspoCRM versions prior to 5.6.6. This security weakness resides in the Create Case functionality where user-supplied input fields for firstName and lastName are not adequately sanitized or filtered before being stored in the application's database. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject malicious JavaScript code directly into these fields, which then gets executed whenever the affected data is rendered or displayed within the application's user interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the EspoCRM application. When users create cases through the web interface, the system accepts user-provided names without proper sanitization processes that would normally strip or encode potentially dangerous characters. This oversight creates an environment where attackers can embed malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers who view the compromised case records. The vulnerability specifically targets the firstName and lastName fields, which are commonly used in CRM applications for customer identification and case management purposes, making them prime targets for exploitation.
The operational impact of this stored XSS vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or theft. An attacker who successfully exploits this flaw can potentially execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the browser context of authenticated users, leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that once the malicious payload is injected, it persists in the database and affects all users who view the compromised records, creating a persistent threat vector that can compromise multiple users over time. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where case records are frequently shared and accessed by different personnel.
Organizations using affected versions of EspoCRM face significant risks including unauthorized access to sensitive customer data, potential system compromise through session manipulation, and possible data exfiltration. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1566 related to credential access through social engineering and malicious payloads. Mitigation strategies should include immediate upgrade to EspoCRM version 5.6.6 or later, implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms, and regular security assessments of web applications to identify similar vulnerabilities. Additionally, organizations should implement content security policies and regularly audit user input handling processes to prevent similar issues from arising in other application components.