CVE-2024-49774 in SuiteCRM
Summary
by MITRE • 11/05/2024
SuiteCRM is an open-source, enterprise-ready Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software application. SuiteCRM relies on the blacklist of functions/methods to prevent installation of malicious MLPs. But this checks can be bypassed with some syntax constructions. SuiteCRM uses token_get_all to parse PHP scripts and check the resulted AST against blacklists. But it doesn't take into account all scenarios. This issue has been addressed in versions 7.14.6 and 8.7.1. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/14/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2024-49774 represents a critical security flaw in SuiteCRM versions prior to 7.14.6 and 8.7.1, where the application's security mechanism for preventing malicious PHP module installation has been successfully bypassed through sophisticated syntax manipulation. This vulnerability resides in the core security architecture that relies on function and method blacklisting to protect against malicious code execution during module installation processes. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental weakness in the application's code analysis approach, specifically in how it processes and validates PHP scripts through the token_get_all function, which is designed to parse PHP source code into tokens for analysis. The vulnerability enables attackers to circumvent the built-in security controls by employing obfuscation techniques that exploit gaps in the parsing logic.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the insufficient handling of PHP syntax variations within the token_get_all parsing mechanism. When SuiteCRM processes PHP modules for installation, it utilizes token_get_all to generate an Abstract Syntax Tree representation of the code, which is then cross-referenced against a predefined blacklist of dangerous functions and methods. However, the security implementation fails to account for various syntactic constructions that can produce equivalent functional outcomes while appearing different to the parser. This oversight allows attackers to construct malicious code using alternative PHP syntax patterns that bypass the blacklist validation, effectively rendering the security controls ineffective. The vulnerability specifically targets the AST comparison logic that should prevent installation of modules containing potentially harmful PHP constructs.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-49774 extends beyond simple code execution, potentially enabling attackers to perform privilege escalation, data exfiltration, and system compromise within the SuiteCRM environment. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-776, which addresses improper restriction of XML external entity reference, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1548.001 for privilege escalation through legitimate credentials, particularly when combined with other exploitation vectors. The bypass capability allows adversaries to install malicious modules that can execute arbitrary code on the server, potentially leading to full system compromise. Organizations using SuiteCRM versions affected by this vulnerability face significant risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure, especially in enterprise environments where CRM systems often contain sensitive customer information and business-critical data.
Organizations must prioritize immediate remediation through upgrading to SuiteCRM versions 7.14.6 or 8.7.1, as no viable workarounds exist for this vulnerability. The security patch addresses the core parsing logic issue by enhancing the token_get_all processing to account for additional syntax variations and by strengthening the AST comparison mechanisms against malicious code patterns. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any potentially compromised systems and implement monitoring for suspicious module installation activities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust code analysis techniques and the necessity of considering all possible syntactic variations when implementing security controls. Additionally, organizations should review their overall security posture, including module management policies, access controls, and network segmentation strategies, to minimize the potential impact of similar vulnerabilities in other applications that rely on similar parsing and validation mechanisms. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of thorough security testing and validation of code analysis tools, particularly in enterprise applications where security controls are paramount to protecting sensitive business information and maintaining system integrity.