CVE-2021-41597 in SuiteCRM
Summary
by MITRE • 01/12/2022
SuiteCRM through 7.11.21 is vulnerable to CSRF, with resultant remote code execution, via the UpgradeWizard functionality, if a PHP file is included in a ZIP archive.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-41597 represents a critical security flaw in SuiteCRM versions up to 7.11.21 that combines cross-site request forgery with remote code execution capabilities through the UpgradeWizard component. This vulnerability exploits a fundamental weakness in the application's file handling and validation mechanisms, creating a dangerous attack vector that can be leveraged by malicious actors to compromise affected systems.
The technical flaw resides in the UpgradeWizard functionality which fails to properly validate file uploads within ZIP archives. When an attacker crafts a malicious ZIP file containing a PHP payload and uploads it through the upgrade process, the system processes the archive without adequate sanitization checks. This allows arbitrary PHP code to be executed on the target server, effectively bypassing authentication mechanisms and granting attackers full control over the application's execution environment. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-352 as a Cross-Site Request Forgery weakness, specifically manifesting in the context of file upload validation failures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for organizations using affected SuiteCRM versions. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary commands on the web server, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistent backdoor installation. The attack requires minimal privileges to initiate, as the upgrade wizard functionality is often accessible to authenticated users, making it particularly dangerous in environments where user access controls are not properly enforced. Organizations may experience unauthorized data access, system availability disruption, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-41597 should prioritize immediate patching of affected SuiteCRM installations to version 7.11.22 or later, which includes proper input validation and CSRF protection mechanisms. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as restricting file upload capabilities, implementing strict file type validation, and deploying web application firewalls to monitor and block suspicious upgrade requests. Network segmentation and access control measures should be enforced to limit user privileges within the application, reducing the potential impact of successful exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and CSRF protection in web applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059 for execution and T1078 for valid accounts as exploitation paths that should be monitored and controlled.