CVE-2020-37006: berliCRM SQL Injection Vulnerability

CVE-2020-37006 Overview

CVE-2020-37006 is a SQL Injection vulnerability affecting berliCRM version 1.0.24. The vulnerability exists in the src_record parameter and allows remote attackers to manipulate database queries through crafted POST requests to the index.php endpoint. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to extract sensitive information or modify database contents.

Critical Impact

Authenticated attackers with network access can exploit this SQL injection flaw to potentially extract or manipulate database information, compromising data confidentiality and integrity.

Affected Products

• berliCRM 1.0.24

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-01-29 - CVE CVE-2020-37006 published to NVD
• 2026-01-29 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2020-37006

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL Injection vulnerability (CWE-89) stems from improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands within the berliCRM application. The vulnerable src_record parameter fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into database queries. When a malicious actor crafts a POST request containing SQL metacharacters, the application passes this input directly to the underlying database engine without adequate validation or parameterization.

The attack requires low privileges and no user interaction, making it exploitable by any authenticated user with network access to the berliCRM instance. The primary impact is on data confidentiality, with potential for limited data modification. The vulnerability does not directly affect system availability.

Root Cause

The root cause is inadequate input validation and the use of unsanitized user input in SQL query construction. The src_record parameter accepts arbitrary input that is concatenated into SQL statements without proper escaping, parameterized queries, or prepared statements. This classic SQL injection pattern allows attackers to break out of the intended query context and inject their own SQL commands.

Attack Vector

The attack is conducted over the network by sending a specially crafted POST request to the index.php endpoint. An attacker with low-level privileges can inject malicious SQL code through the src_record parameter. The injected SQL commands are then executed by the database server with the same privileges as the web application's database user.

Common exploitation techniques include:

• Union-based injection to extract data from other tables
• Boolean-based blind injection to infer database contents
• Time-based blind injection when direct output is not visible
• Stacked queries (if supported by the database) to execute multiple statements

For detailed technical information and proof-of-concept details, refer to the Exploit-DB #48872 entry and the VulnCheck Advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2020-37006

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual or malformed POST requests to index.php containing SQL keywords in the src_record parameter
• Database error messages in application logs indicating SQL syntax errors
• Unexpected database queries or data access patterns in database audit logs
• Large data transfers from the database server following web requests

Detection Strategies

• Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect SQL injection patterns in POST parameters, particularly targeting the src_record field
• Implement application-layer logging to capture all parameters submitted to index.php for forensic analysis
• Configure database activity monitoring to alert on unusual query patterns or unauthorized data access
• Use intrusion detection systems with signatures for common SQL injection payloads

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for the berliCRM application and review logs regularly for suspicious activity
• Monitor database query logs for injection indicators such as UNION SELECT, OR 1=1, sleep functions, and other SQL metacharacters
• Track authentication events and correlate with subsequent database activity to identify compromised accounts
• Establish baseline database query patterns and alert on anomalies

How to Mitigate CVE-2020-37006

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict network access to berliCRM installations to trusted networks only
• Implement Web Application Firewall rules to filter SQL injection attempts targeting the src_record parameter
• Review database user permissions and apply principle of least privilege to limit potential damage from exploitation
• Enable comprehensive logging on both the web application and database servers

Patch Information

Check the BerliCRM Official Site for security updates and patched versions. Organizations should upgrade to the latest version of berliCRM that addresses this SQL injection vulnerability. If a patch is not yet available, implement the workarounds below until one is released.

Workarounds

• Deploy a Web Application Firewall with SQL injection protection rules enabled for all traffic to the berliCRM application
• Implement input validation at the network perimeter using reverse proxy rules to sanitize the src_record parameter
• Restrict access to the berliCRM application to authorized internal users only via network segmentation or VPN requirements
• Consider temporarily disabling functionality that relies on the vulnerable parameter if business operations permit

# Example WAF rule concept for ModSecurity
# Block requests with SQL injection patterns in src_record parameter
SecRule ARGS:src_record "@detectSQLi" \
    "id:1001,\
    phase:2,\
    deny,\
    status:403,\
    log,\
    msg:'SQL Injection attempt detected in src_record parameter - CVE-2020-37006'"