CVE-2022-48178 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 stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability via the Create Action function, aka an index.php/actions/update URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/27/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-48178 affects X2CRM Open Source Sales CRM versions 6.6 and 6.9, representing a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw that compromises user sessions and data integrity. This vulnerability specifically manifests through the Create Action function within the application's web interface, making it particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that persist in the application's database and execute against unsuspecting users. The affected URI path index.php/actions/update serves as the primary attack vector where user input is improperly sanitized before being stored and subsequently rendered back to users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the CRM's action handling system. When users interact with the Create Action function, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before storing it in the database, creating a persistent XSS condition. This flaw operates under CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding. The vulnerability enables attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the CRM environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-48178 extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to manipulate CRM data, access sensitive customer information, and potentially compromise the entire system. Given that CRM systems typically contain highly sensitive business and customer data, successful exploitation could result in significant financial losses, regulatory violations, and reputational damage. The persistent nature of stored XSS means that once the malicious payload is injected, it will execute automatically whenever affected users access the compromised application interface, making detection and remediation particularly challenging.
Organizations utilizing affected X2CRM versions should implement immediate mitigations including input sanitization of all user-supplied data, proper output encoding for all dynamic content, and comprehensive web application firewall rules to detect and block malicious payloads. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which covers social engineering via malicious content, and T1071.001 which addresses application layer protocol usage. Security teams should conduct thorough penetration testing to identify all potential injection points within the application, implement proper content security policies, and establish monitoring procedures to detect anomalous user behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security updates and patch management processes should be prioritized to address similar vulnerabilities in the future.