CVE-2022-48177 in Open Source Sales CRM
Summary
by MITRE • 04/15/2023
X2CRM Open Source Sales CRM 6.6 and 6.9 was discovered to contain a reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability via the adin/importModels Import Records Model field (model parameter). This vulnerability allows attackers to create malicious JavaScript that will be executed by the victim user's browser.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/27/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-48177 affects X2CRM Open Source Sales CRM versions 6.6 and 6.9, representing a critical reflected cross-site scripting flaw that poses significant security risks to organizations relying on this customer relationship management platform. This vulnerability specifically resides within the adin/importModels Import Records Model field, where the model parameter fails to properly sanitize user input, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary JavaScript code within victim browsers. The reflected nature of this XSS vulnerability means that the malicious payload is reflected back to the user through the application's response, typically via URL parameters or form fields, making it particularly dangerous as it can be delivered through phishing emails, malicious links, or compromised web pages that direct users to exploit the vulnerable endpoint.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the X2CRM application's import functionality. When users interact with the Import Records Model feature, the application accepts the model parameter without sufficient sanitization or encoding of special characters that could enable script execution. This flaw directly aligns with CWE-79, which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is sent to a user agent without proper validation or encoding. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that exploit this vulnerability by manipulating the model parameter to inject JavaScript code that executes in the context of the victim's browser session. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable session hijacking, credential theft, and further exploitation of the victim's privileges within the CRM system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial for organizations using X2CRM, as it creates multiple attack vectors for compromising user sessions and potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive customer data. A successful exploitation could allow attackers to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, or inject persistent malware that maintains access to the compromised system. Given that CRM systems typically contain highly sensitive business and customer information, this vulnerability could lead to data breaches, financial losses, and regulatory compliance violations. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that attackers do not need to store malicious code on the server, making detection more challenging and the attack surface more expansive since any user who clicks a malicious link or submits a crafted form will be affected. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers social engineering tactics that can be employed to deliver malicious payloads through web-based attacks.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied parameters within the import functionality, particularly focusing on the model parameter in the adin/importModels endpoint. The recommended approach involves implementing strict parameter validation that rejects or sanitizes potentially dangerous characters and implementing proper HTML encoding for all output data. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit script execution and reduce the impact of successful XSS attacks. Security headers such as X-Content-Type-Options and X-Frame-Options should also be configured to provide additional protection layers. Regular security testing and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, while user education regarding suspicious links and email attachments remains crucial for preventing exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications and the necessity of following secure coding practices to prevent common web-based attack vectors that can compromise entire organizational systems.