CVE-2004-1769 in cPanel
Summary
by MITRE
The "Allow cPanel users to reset their password via email" feature in cPanel 9.1.0 build 34 and earlier, including 8.x, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via the user parameter to resetpass.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-1769 represents a critical security flaw within the cPanel web hosting control panel software that affected versions 9.1.0 build 34 and earlier, including the 8.x series. This issue resides in the password reset functionality that was designed to allow legitimate users to recover their account credentials through email verification. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the resetpass script that processes user requests for password recovery. When attackers exploit this vulnerability, they can manipulate the user parameter to execute arbitrary code on the target system, effectively bypassing normal authentication mechanisms and gaining unauthorized access to user accounts.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories, representing a command injection flaw that allows remote code execution. The vulnerability operates by accepting user input through the resetpass parameter without proper validation or sanitization, enabling attackers to inject malicious commands that get executed within the context of the web application. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK framework's T1059.007 technique for command and scripting interpreter, specifically targeting the execution of malicious code through web-based interfaces. The flaw essentially allows an attacker to escalate privileges and potentially gain system-level access by leveraging the legitimate password reset functionality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for any organization using affected cPanel versions. Attackers can exploit this weakness to reset passwords for any user account, potentially gaining access to sensitive customer data, server resources, and hosting environments. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not need physical access to the system or local network connectivity, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous. Organizations may experience unauthorized access to customer accounts, data breaches, service disruption, and potential compromise of the entire hosting infrastructure. The vulnerability also enables attackers to establish persistent access through compromised accounts, making it difficult to detect and remediate without comprehensive security audits.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-1769 require immediate action to address the root cause of the vulnerability. Organizations must upgrade to cPanel versions that have patched this issue, specifically versions 9.1.0 build 35 and later, or the 10.x series which contain the necessary security fixes. The patch implementation should include proper input validation and sanitization of all user parameters, particularly those used in authentication and account management functions. Security measures should also include implementing proper access controls, monitoring for unusual password reset activities, and conducting regular security assessments of web applications. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network segmentation, firewall rules to restrict access to sensitive administrative functions, and comprehensive logging to detect potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include thorough testing of the patched environment to ensure that legitimate functionality remains intact while addressing the security vulnerability.