CVE-2021-25960 in SuiteCRM
Summary
by MITRE • 09/29/2021
In “SuiteCRM” application, v7.11.18 through v7.11.19 and v7.10.29 through v7.10.31 are affected by “CSV Injection” vulnerability (Formula Injection). A low privileged attacker can use accounts module to inject payloads in the input fields. When an administrator access accounts module to export the data as a CSV file and opens it, the payload gets executed. This was not fixed properly as part of CVE-2020-15301, allowing the attacker to bypass the security measure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/04/2021
The CVE-2021-25960 vulnerability represents a critical csv injection flaw in the SuiteCRM application that affects versions ranging from 7.11.18 through 7.11.19 and 7.10.29 through 7.10.31. This vulnerability falls under the category of formula injection attacks as classified by the common weakness enumeration framework, specifically mapping to CWE-1236 which addresses the injection of malicious formulas into spreadsheet applications. The vulnerability exploits the application's failure to properly sanitize user input when processing data exports, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code through spreadsheet manipulation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the accounts module of SuiteCRM where low-privileged attackers can inject malicious payloads into input fields. When administrators subsequently export this data to csv format and open it in spreadsheet applications, the embedded formulas execute automatically due to the lack of proper input validation and sanitization. This exploitation mechanism leverages the inherent trust that spreadsheet applications place in formula execution, particularly when formulas begin with specific characters like equals signs or plus signs that trigger automatic evaluation. The vulnerability represents a classic server-side injection flaw that demonstrates inadequate data sanitization practices in the export functionality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or unauthorized access, as it enables full code execution within the context of the spreadsheet application. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform various malicious activities including data exfiltration, system reconnaissance, and potential privilege escalation within the compromised environment. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple version ranges indicates a systemic issue in the application's input handling mechanisms, particularly affecting the export functionality that processes user-generated content. This creates a persistent threat vector that can compromise administrator accounts and potentially lead to complete system compromise.
The security implications of this vulnerability are particularly concerning as it bypasses existing security measures that were supposedly addressed in CVE-2020-15301, indicating a regression or incomplete fix in the application's security architecture. This demonstrates the importance of comprehensive testing and validation of security patches, as well as the need for proper input sanitization across all application modules. Organizations utilizing SuiteCRM in environments where administrators regularly handle data exports must consider this vulnerability as a critical threat requiring immediate remediation. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 which covers command and scripting interpreter execution, and T1566 which addresses credential access through social engineering.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and sanitization for all user-generated content within the accounts module and related export functionalities. Organizations should enforce strict data sanitization protocols that prevent the injection of formula characters into exported data, particularly by prefixing potentially dangerous characters with single quotes or implementing proper escaping mechanisms. The application should also implement proper content type validation and sanitization when generating csv files to prevent formula injection. Additionally, administrators should be educated about the risks of opening exported files from untrusted sources and should consider implementing automated security scanning for exported data. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other export functionalities and ensure proper implementation of security controls.