CVE-2019-17296 in SugarCRM
Summary
by MITRE
SugarCRM before 8.0.4 and 9.x before 9.0.2 allows SQL injection in the Contacts module by a Regular user.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-17296 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 Contacts module and enables authenticated regular users to execute malicious SQL commands against the underlying database. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the application's data processing pipeline, allowing attackers to manipulate database queries through crafted user inputs.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when regular users interact with the Contacts module, particularly during data manipulation operations such as searching, filtering, or updating contact records. The flaw manifests when user-supplied parameters are directly incorporated into SQL query construction without proper escaping or parameterization techniques. This design flaw falls under the CWE-89 category of SQL Injection, where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize inputs before incorporating them into database commands. Attackers can exploit this weakness to extract sensitive data, modify database records, or potentially escalate privileges within the system.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-17296 extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to manipulate the entire contact database and potentially access related information stored in interconnected tables. Regular users typically have limited permissions within CRM systems, making this vulnerability particularly concerning as it allows for privilege escalation through database manipulation. The attack vector requires authentication, meaning that an attacker must first obtain valid user credentials, but once achieved, the impact can be substantial. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for Application Layer Protocol: DNS and T1213.002 for Data from Information Repositories, as it enables data extraction from the CRM database repository.
Organizations running affected SugarCRM versions face significant risk of unauthorized data access, data integrity compromise, and potential system exfiltration. The vulnerability can be exploited to retrieve customer information, contact details, and potentially sensitive business data that would normally be protected by access controls. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching to versions 8.0.4 or 9.0.2 where the vulnerability has been addressed. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls, conducting regular security audits, and ensuring proper input validation across all user-facing modules. The remediation process should also involve monitoring for suspicious database activity and implementing principle of least privilege access controls to limit the potential impact of compromised user accounts.