CVE-2004-2308 in cPanel
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in cPanel 9.1.0 and possibly earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the dir parameter in dohtaccess.html.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/31/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2308 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within cPanel version 9.1.0 and potentially earlier releases. This security weakness resides in the dohtaccess.html component of the web hosting control panel software, which is widely deployed across hosting environments and web server configurations. The vulnerability specifically targets the handling of the dir parameter, which is processed without adequate input validation or sanitization mechanisms. This allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content directly into the application's response, creating a persistent vector for exploitation.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses that occur when an application incorporates untrusted data into web pages without proper validation or escaping. The flaw manifests when the dir parameter in the dohtaccess.html script fails to sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it within the web page context. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious URLs containing script tags or other HTML elements within the dir parameter, which then get executed in the browsers of unsuspecting users who visit the affected pages. This creates a persistent threat where victims may unknowingly execute malicious code, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further compromise of the hosting environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with a foothold to conduct more sophisticated attacks within the compromised hosting environment. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can manipulate the web interface to perform unauthorized actions, potentially gaining access to sensitive administrative functions or user data stored within the cPanel environment. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires minimal privileges to execute, as the vulnerability exists in a publicly accessible administrative interface component. This makes it attractive to attackers who may be targeting hosting providers or specific websites hosted within vulnerable cPanel installations. The vulnerability also has implications for the broader web hosting ecosystem, as compromised cPanel instances can serve as launch points for attacks against multiple websites hosted on the same server.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-2308 should prioritize immediate patching of affected cPanel installations to the latest available versions that contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in custom applications. The principle of least privilege should be enforced within cPanel configurations, limiting access to administrative functions through proper authentication and authorization controls. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious parameter values in web application logs, particularly those containing script tags or other potentially malicious content. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection by filtering malicious traffic before it reaches vulnerable components. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning of web applications to identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited by threat actors. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for scripting and T1566.001 for valid accounts, as attackers may use the compromised interface to execute commands or escalate privileges within the hosting environment.