CVE-2022-1202 in WP-CRM Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/13/2022
The WP-CRM WordPress plugin through 1.2.1 does not validate and sanitise fields when exporting people to a CSV file, leading to a CSV injection vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2022
The WP-CRM WordPress plugin version 1.2.1 contains a critical vulnerability that arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization during CSV export operations. This vulnerability falls under the category of CSV injection as defined by CWE-1235, where maliciously crafted input within CRM data fields can be executed when the exported CSV file is opened in spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets. The flaw exists because the plugin fails to properly sanitize user-provided data before incorporating it into the CSV export functionality, creating an avenue for attackers to inject malicious formulas or commands that execute automatically when the file is opened.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's lack of proper data sanitization routines during the export process. When users export person data from the WP-CRM plugin, the system directly incorporates raw input values into CSV cells without appropriate escaping or encoding mechanisms. This allows attackers to craft malicious input containing spreadsheet formulas such as formulae starting with equals signs, which when executed in spreadsheet applications can lead to various security implications including arbitrary code execution, data exfiltration, or system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the trust relationship between the spreadsheet application and the user who opens the file, making it difficult to detect and prevent without proper input validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or information disclosure. Attackers can exploit this weakness to execute malicious code on target systems when victims open the compromised CSV files, potentially leading to complete system compromise. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1029 for Scheduled Transfer, as the vulnerability enables attackers to establish persistent access through automated execution of malicious payloads. The risk is amplified when considering that many organizations regularly import CRM data into spreadsheet applications for analysis, making the attack surface broader than initially apparent. The vulnerability also represents a significant risk to business continuity as it can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive customer information and potential regulatory compliance violations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of the WP-CRM plugin to version 1.2.2 or later, which addresses the input validation and sanitization issues. Organizations should implement additional protective measures such as disabling CSV export functionality when not required, implementing network-level restrictions on file downloads, and establishing proper input validation at multiple layers of the application stack. Security teams should also conduct thorough penetration testing to identify other potential injection points in the system and ensure that all user-provided data is properly sanitized before being processed or exported. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications and serves as a reminder that even seemingly benign features like data export can represent significant security risks when proper sanitization controls are not implemented.