CVE-2019-17301 in SugarCRM
Summary
by MITRE
SugarCRM before 8.0.4 and 9.x before 9.0.2 allows PHP code injection in the ModuleBuilder module by an Admin user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-17301 represents a critical PHP code injection flaw within the SugarCRM platform that affects versions prior to 8.0.4 and 9.0.2. This security weakness resides within the ModuleBuilder module, which is designed to allow administrators to customize and extend the functionality of the CRM system through a graphical interface. The flaw enables authenticated administrative users to inject arbitrary PHP code into the application's execution environment, creating a severe escalation path that could lead to complete system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the ModuleBuilder component. When administrative users interact with the module builder interface to create or modify custom modules, the system fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into executable PHP code. This oversight creates a path where maliciously crafted input can be processed and executed as PHP code, bypassing normal security controls and authorization mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically targets the way the system handles dynamic code generation for custom modules, where user input is directly concatenated into code templates without adequate security filtering.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-17301 is particularly severe given that it requires only administrative privileges to exploit, which are typically limited to trusted personnel within an organization. An attacker who gains access to an administrative account can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on the server hosting the SugarCRM application. This capability enables full system compromise including data exfiltration, persistence mechanisms installation, lateral movement within the network, and potential escalation to other systems. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-94, which describes "Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')" and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices that should prevent dynamic code execution from untrusted input sources.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059.001 for command and script interpreter execution, T1078 for valid accounts, and T1566 for phishing with malicious attachments or links. The attack surface is significantly reduced compared to vulnerabilities requiring external network access, as it only requires an administrative login credential, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrative accounts are compromised through social engineering or credential theft attacks. Organizations utilizing SugarCRM in production environments face substantial risk from this vulnerability, as it effectively grants attackers complete control over the CRM database and associated server resources.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate deployment of the vendor-provided security patches for versions 8.0.4 and 9.0.2, which address the input validation deficiencies in the ModuleBuilder module. Additionally, organizations should implement strict administrative access controls including multi-factor authentication, regular credential rotation, and monitoring for unusual administrative activities within the CRM system. Network segmentation and privileged access management solutions should be deployed to limit the potential impact of compromised administrative accounts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and the principle of least privilege in web application security, particularly for administrative interfaces that handle dynamic code generation capabilities.