CVE-2019-17292 in SugarCRM
Summary
by MITRE
SugarCRM before 8.0.4 and 9.x before 9.0.2 allows SQL injection in the pmse_Inbox module by an Admin user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2019-17292 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the SugarCRM platform that affects versions prior to 8.0.4 and 9.0.2. This security weakness specifically targets the pmse_Inbox module, which is part of SugarCRM's Process Management Engine functionality. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the administrative interface, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database system. The flaw is particularly concerning because it requires only administrative privileges to exploit, making it accessible to users with elevated permissions within the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper parameter handling within the pmse_Inbox module where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into SQL query constructions without adequate sanitization or preparation. This pattern of insecure database interaction aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection as a fundamental weakness in software that allows attackers to manipulate database queries through malicious input. The vulnerability is classified as a command injection issue where the attacker can inject malicious SQL code that gets executed with the privileges of the database user associated with the SugarCRM application. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation and T1046 for network service discovery.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with unrestricted access to the database contents, potentially enabling data exfiltration, modification of critical business information, and even complete system compromise. Administrative users with access to the pmse_Inbox module can leverage this vulnerability to escalate their privileges, extract sensitive customer data, modify business processes, and potentially establish persistent backdoors within the organization's CRM infrastructure. The attack surface is particularly dangerous because SugarCRM is widely used in enterprise environments for customer relationship management, making the potential impact of such an exploit significant for business continuity and data protection. Organizations using affected versions of SugarCRM face risks of regulatory compliance violations, financial losses, and reputational damage.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-17292 involve immediate deployment of vendor patches and updates to versions 8.0.4 and 9.0.2 where the SQL injection vulnerability has been addressed. Organizations should implement the principle of least privilege by restricting administrative access to only essential personnel and ensuring that the pmse_Inbox module is properly configured with appropriate access controls. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious SQL injection attempts, conducting regular security assessments of the CRM environment, and monitoring database activities for suspicious queries. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of input validation and parameterized queries in preventing injection attacks, which should be enforced across all database interactions within the application. Security teams should also consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous SQL patterns and alert administrators to potential exploitation attempts.