CVE-2019-16685 in Dolibarr
Summary
by MITRE
Dolibarr 9.0.5 has stored XSS vulnerability via a User Group Description section to card.php. A user with the "Create/modify other users, groups and permissions" privilege can inject script and can also achieve privilege escalation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-16685 affects Dolibarr version 9.0.5 and represents a stored cross-site scripting flaw that specifically targets the User Group Description section within the card.php interface. This security weakness enables malicious actors to inject persistent script code that executes whenever the affected page is loaded, creating a significant risk for organizations utilizing this ERP and CRM platform. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the user group description handling functionality, allowing attackers to embed malicious scripts that persist in the database and execute in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to possess the specific privilege level "Create/modify other users, groups and permissions" which indicates that the flaw can be leveraged by users with administrative or elevated access rights within the system. This privilege escalation capability significantly amplifies the potential impact, as the attacker can not only inject malicious scripts but also manipulate user permissions and access controls. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that the injected code remains persistent in the application's database, executing automatically each time the affected page is accessed by any user, including administrators. This characteristic transforms what might initially appear as a simple scripting vulnerability into a potent tool for maintaining persistent access and conducting broader attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-16685 extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to potentially compromise entire user sessions and gain unauthorized access to sensitive organizational data. When combined with the privilege escalation capability, an attacker can manipulate user group memberships, modify permissions, and potentially gain administrative control over the entire Dolibarr instance. The vulnerability affects the core authentication and authorization mechanisms of the platform, potentially allowing attackers to impersonate legitimate users, access confidential business information, and modify critical system configurations. This type of vulnerability directly violates security principles outlined in the CWE catalog under CWE-79 which addresses Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1078.004 for valid accounts. Organizations using Dolibarr version 9.0.5 should immediately implement mitigation strategies including input sanitization, output encoding, and privilege access controls, while also considering the implementation of web application firewalls to detect and block malicious script injection attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and the principle of least privilege in preventing cascading security failures that can lead to complete system compromise.
This vulnerability highlights the necessity for comprehensive security testing and input validation across all user-modifiable fields within web applications, particularly those handling user group and permission configurations. The flaw serves as a reminder that even seemingly minor functionality can become a critical security weakness when proper sanitization and validation measures are not implemented. Organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their web applications, implement robust content security policies, and ensure that all user inputs are properly sanitized before being stored or rendered in web pages. The combination of stored XSS with privilege escalation capabilities creates a particularly dangerous scenario that can lead to complete system compromise and data breaches, making immediate remediation essential for all affected systems.