CVE-2019-17299 in SugarCRM
Summary
by MITRE
SugarCRM before 8.0.4 and 9.x before 9.0.2 allows PHP code injection in the Administration module by an Admin user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-17299 represents a critical PHP code injection flaw within the SugarCRM platform that affects versions prior to 8.0.4 and 9.0.2. This vulnerability resides within the Administration module of the application, which is a privileged component that should only be accessible to authorized administrative users. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before it is processed and executed within the PHP environment. Attackers with administrative privileges can exploit this weakness to inject malicious PHP code that will be executed with the privileges of the web server process, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages the elevated privileges of administrative users, eliminating the need for additional privilege escalation techniques that would typically be required to achieve similar outcomes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of user input within the Administration module where administrative functions are managed. When an admin user interacts with specific administrative features, the application fails to adequately sanitize parameters that are subsequently passed to PHP execution functions or included within dynamic code generation contexts. This allows attackers to inject arbitrary PHP code that gets executed in the context of the web server, potentially enabling remote code execution capabilities. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-94, which describes the weakness of "Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')" and represents a classic example of how insufficient input validation can lead to arbitrary code execution in web applications. The flaw specifically demonstrates weaknesses in the application's data flow processing where user-controllable data transitions from input to execution without proper security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code injection as it provides attackers with a potential pathway to achieve complete system compromise. Once an attacker gains administrative access and exploits this vulnerability, they can execute arbitrary PHP code with the privileges of the web server process, potentially allowing for data exfiltration, system reconnaissance, lateral movement within the network, and establishment of persistent backdoors. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires only administrative privileges rather than more complex exploitation techniques, making it accessible to attackers who have already gained administrative access through other means such as credential compromise or privilege escalation. This vulnerability can be leveraged to establish a foothold for further attacks within the organization's infrastructure, particularly in environments where SugarCRM serves as a central business application. The impact is amplified when considering that administrative users often have access to sensitive business data and system configurations that could be exploited for financial gain or data theft.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to SugarCRM versions 8.0.4 or 9.0.2, which contain the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and sanitization controls within the Administration module should be considered as a defensive measure, even for environments where immediate upgrades are not feasible. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual administrative activities or code injection attempts within the application. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Secure Coding Practices and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for PHP code injection, emphasizing the need for robust input validation and the principle of least privilege in administrative access controls. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and application-level security controls to detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while maintaining comprehensive audit trails of administrative activities for incident response purposes.