CVE-2023-4197 in ERP CRM
Summary
by MITRE • 11/01/2023
Improper input validation in Dolibarr ERP CRM <= v18.0.1 fails to strip certain PHP code from user-supplied input when creating a Website, allowing an attacker to inject and evaluate arbitrary PHP code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/29/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-4197 represents a critical security flaw within Dolibarr ERP CRM versions up to and including v18.0.1. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data when creating website content within the application. The weakness specifically manifests during the website creation process where the system does not adequately strip or escape PHP code elements from user inputs, creating an avenue for malicious code injection. This vulnerability falls under the category of code injection flaws and aligns with CWE-94, which describes the improper validation of input that allows arbitrary code execution. The flaw essentially permits attackers to inject PHP code that will be executed within the application's context, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input containing PHP code fragments that are then processed and stored within the website creation functionality. The insufficient sanitization means that when the system renders or processes these inputs, the embedded PHP code executes with the privileges of the affected application, typically running under the web server's user context. This execution context provides attackers with the ability to perform actions such as file manipulation, data exfiltration, system command execution, and potentially establish persistent access. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it operates at the application layer, allowing attackers to leverage the web application's inherent permissions and access to backend systems.
The operational consequences of CVE-2023-4197 extend beyond immediate code execution capabilities to encompass broader system compromise and data integrity violations. Organizations utilizing affected Dolibarr versions face significant risk of unauthorized access to sensitive business data, including customer information, financial records, and proprietary business intelligence. The vulnerability creates opportunities for attackers to establish backdoors, escalate privileges, and conduct reconnaissance activities within the network. From an attacker's perspective, this flaw maps directly to the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution via PHP, and T1566 for initial access through web application attacks. The impact is particularly severe for businesses relying on Dolibarr for customer relationship management and enterprise resource planning, as the compromise can lead to complete operational disruption and regulatory compliance violations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-4197 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security enhancements. The primary recommendation involves upgrading to Dolibarr version 18.0.2 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation at multiple layers, ensuring that all user-supplied data undergoes rigorous sanitization before processing. The implementation of a web application firewall can provide additional protection by detecting and blocking malicious PHP code patterns in real-time. Security teams should conduct thorough code reviews focusing on input handling and sanitization practices, particularly within web application components that process user-generated content. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be performed to identify similar weaknesses. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege for web application accounts and establishing robust monitoring and logging mechanisms can help detect exploitation attempts and minimize the impact of successful attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies and input encoding mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of their web applications.