Description
A PHP object injection vulnerability exists in SugarCRM versions prior to 6.5.24, 6.7.13, 7.5.2.5, 7.6.2.2, and 7.7.1.0 due to improper validation of PHP serialized input in the SugarRestSerialize.php script. The vulnerable code fails to sanitize the rest_data parameter before passing it to the unserialize() function. This allows an unauthenticated attacker to submit crafted serialized data containing malicious object declarations, resulting in arbitrary code execution within the application context. Although SugarCRM released a prior fix in advisory sugarcrm-sa-2016-001, the patch was incomplete and failed to address some vectors.
EPSS Score:
0%
Comprehensive Technical Analysis of EUVD-2025-18782
1. Vulnerability Assessment and Severity Evaluation
The vulnerability described in EUVD-2025-18782 is a PHP object injection flaw in SugarCRM, which allows for arbitrary code execution. The severity of this vulnerability is rated with a CVSS base score of 9.3, indicating a critical risk. The CVSS vector CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N highlights the following characteristics:
- Attack Vector (AV): Network (N) - The vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network.
- Attack Complexity (AC): Low (L) - The attack requires minimal skill or resources to exploit.
- Authentication (AT): None (N) - No authentication is required to exploit the vulnerability.
- Privileges Required (PR): None (N) - No special privileges are needed.
- User Interaction (UI): None (N) - No user interaction is required.
- Confidentiality (VC): High (H) - Complete loss of confidentiality.
- Integrity (VI): High (H) - Complete loss of integrity.
- Availability (VA): High (H) - Complete loss of availability.
This combination of factors makes the vulnerability highly critical, as it can be exploited easily and results in severe impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
2. Potential Attack Vectors and Exploitation Methods
The primary attack vector involves submitting crafted serialized data to the SugarRestSerialize.php script. Specifically, an attacker can exploit this vulnerability by:
- Crafting Malicious Serialized Data: Creating serialized PHP objects that, when unserialized, execute arbitrary code.
- Submitting Data via HTTP Requests: Sending the crafted data through HTTP requests to the vulnerable endpoint.
- Achieving Code Execution: The unserialize() function processes the malicious input, leading to arbitrary code execution within the application context.
Exploitation methods may include:
- Direct Exploitation: Using tools like Metasploit, which has a module specifically for this vulnerability (
sugarcrm_rest_unserialize_exec). - Manual Exploitation: Crafting and sending HTTP requests manually using tools like
curlor custom scripts.
3. Affected Systems and Software Versions
The vulnerability affects the following versions of SugarCRM:
- SugarCRM 6.5.0 to 6.5.23
- SugarCRM 6.7.0 to 6.7.12
- SugarCRM 7.5.0 to 7.5.2.4
- SugarCRM 7.6.0 to 7.6.2.1
- SugarCRM 7.7.0 to 7.7.0.9
Organizations using any of these versions are at risk and should prioritize updating to the patched versions.
4. Recommended Mitigation Strategies
To mitigate the risk posed by this vulnerability, organizations should:
- Update to Patched Versions: Immediately upgrade to SugarCRM versions 6.5.24, 6.7.13, 7.5.2.5, 7.6.2.2, or 7.7.1.0, which include the necessary fixes.
- Implement Input Validation: Ensure that all input data is properly validated and sanitized before being processed by the application.
- Disable Unserialize: If possible, disable the use of the unserialize() function or replace it with safer alternatives.
- Network Segmentation: Segment the network to limit the exposure of vulnerable systems.
- Monitoring and Logging: Enhance monitoring and logging to detect and respond to any suspicious activities related to this vulnerability.
5. Impact on European Cybersecurity Landscape
The impact of this vulnerability on the European cybersecurity landscape is significant due to the widespread use of SugarCRM in various industries. Organizations that rely on SugarCRM for customer relationship management could face severe data breaches, loss of customer trust, and potential legal repercussions under GDPR if sensitive data is compromised. The ease of exploitation and the critical nature of the vulnerability make it a high-priority issue for cybersecurity teams across Europe.
6. Technical Details for Security Professionals
Vulnerable Code Analysis:
The vulnerability stems from the SugarRestSerialize.php script, which fails to sanitize the rest_data parameter before passing it to the unserialize() function. This allows an attacker to inject malicious serialized data.
Example Exploit Code:
$payload = 'O:10:"MaliciousClass":1:{s:4:"code";s:26:"system(\'whoami\');";}';
$ch = curl_init();
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, "http://vulnerable-sugarcrm-instance/SugarRestSerialize.php");
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POST, 1);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, "rest_data=" . urlencode($payload));
curl_exec($ch);
curl_close($ch);
Detection and Response:
- Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS): Configure IDS to detect and alert on suspicious serialized data patterns in HTTP requests.
- Web Application Firewalls (WAF): Implement WAF rules to block requests containing serialized PHP objects.
- Incident Response: Develop and test incident response plans to quickly identify and mitigate any exploitation attempts.
Conclusion: The PHP object injection vulnerability in SugarCRM is a critical issue that requires immediate attention. Organizations should prioritize updating to patched versions and implementing robust security measures to protect against potential exploitation. The European cybersecurity landscape must remain vigilant against such vulnerabilities to safeguard sensitive data and maintain trust in digital services.