CVE-2023-3293 in SuiteCRM
Summary
by MITRE • 06/16/2023
Cross-site Scripting (XSS) - Stored in GitHub repository salesagility/suitecrm-core prior to 8.3.0.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-3293 represents a stored cross-site scripting flaw within the GitHub repository salesagility/suitecrm-core affecting versions prior to 8.3.0. This issue resides in the SuiteCRM Core application which is a widely used open-source customer relationship management platform. The vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that persist in the application's database and execute whenever users access affected pages. Such stored XSS vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can remain dormant for extended periods while continuing to affect users who view the compromised content. The flaw specifically impacts how the application processes and displays user-supplied input without proper sanitization or encoding mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the SuiteCRM Core framework. When users submit data through various application forms or interfaces, the system fails to properly sanitize potentially malicious content before storing it in the database. This stored data is then retrieved and displayed to other users without appropriate HTML encoding or script sanitization, creating an environment where attacker-controlled JavaScript code can execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability typically occurs in areas where user-generated content is displayed without proper security measures, such as in comments, descriptions, or custom fields. This weakness directly maps to CWE-79 which defines Cross-site Scripting vulnerabilities as the failure to properly encode output and validate input. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires minimal user interaction beyond accessing the compromised application interface.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-3293 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could potentially access sensitive user session cookies, perform actions on behalf of authenticated users, or redirect victims to malicious websites. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that even users who are not directly interacting with the compromised data can be affected when they view pages containing the malicious payloads. This creates a persistent threat that can compromise multiple users over time, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where SuiteCRM is used for customer data management and business operations. The vulnerability could enable attackers to escalate privileges, access confidential business information, or conduct further reconnaissance activities within the application environment. Organizations using SuiteCRM versions prior to 8.3.0 face significant risk of unauthorized access and data compromise, as the vulnerability can be exploited through various attack surfaces within the application.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-3293 primarily focus on upgrading to SuiteCRM Core version 8.3.0 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the stored XSS vulnerability. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms and ensure all user-supplied content is properly sanitized before storage. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against script execution. Security teams should conduct thorough code reviews to identify other potential XSS vulnerabilities in custom modules or extensions that may interact with the core application. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be performed to validate the effectiveness of implemented controls. Organizations may also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious script injection attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering attacks including cross-site scripting, emphasizing the importance of proper input validation and output encoding in preventing such exploitation methods. Additionally, implementing proper security training for developers on secure coding practices can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future versions of the application.