CVE-2004-1603 in cPanel
Summary
by MITRE
cPanel 9.4.1-RELEASE-64 follows hard links, which allows local users to (1) read arbitrary files via the backup feature or (2) chown arbitrary files via the .htaccess file when Front Page extensions are enabled or disabled.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/05/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1603 affects cPanel version 9.4.1-RELEASE-64 and represents a critical security flaw related to how the system handles file operations within its backup and Front Page extensions functionality. This issue stems from the software's improper handling of hard links, creating exploitable conditions that can be leveraged by local attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system resources. The vulnerability manifests in two distinct attack vectors that exploit the same underlying flaw in the software's file processing mechanisms.
The technical exploitation occurs through the backup feature where local users can manipulate hard links to read arbitrary files that should normally be protected from unauthorized access. Additionally, when Front Page extensions are enabled or disabled, attackers can leverage the same hard link handling mechanism to perform chown operations on arbitrary files, effectively allowing them to change file ownership and potentially escalate privileges within the system. This dual exploitation capability makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it provides both information disclosure and privilege escalation capabilities. The root cause lies in the software's failure to properly validate or sanitize hard link references during file operations, creating a path for malicious file manipulation.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability compromises the integrity and confidentiality of the affected system by allowing local users to bypass normal access controls. The ability to read arbitrary files through the backup feature can expose sensitive configuration data, user credentials, or system information that should remain protected. The chown capability through .htaccess file manipulation when Front Page extensions are active can enable attackers to modify file ownership, potentially leading to further system compromise or persistent access. The vulnerability affects the core security model of cPanel, which is designed to provide secure hosting environments for multiple users, making it particularly concerning for shared hosting environments where multiple users operate on the same system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate software updates to versions that address the hard link handling flaw in the backup and Front Page extensions components. Organizations should also implement additional access controls and monitoring to detect unauthorized file manipulation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory) and CWE-276 (Incorrect Default Permissions) categories, indicating weaknesses in path validation and permission handling. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1078 (Valid Accounts) as attackers can leverage local accounts to exploit these flaws and potentially establish persistent access. System administrators should also consider implementing file integrity monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized changes to critical system files and hard link manipulations that could indicate exploitation attempts.