CVE-2007-0890 in WebHost Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in scripts/passwdmysql in cPanel WebHost Manager (WHM) 11.0.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the password parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/21/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-0890 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the cPanel WebHost Manager administration interface. This issue affects versions 11.0.0 and earlier of WHM, which is a widely deployed web hosting control panel used by hosting providers and system administrators to manage multiple web hosting accounts. The vulnerability specifically resides in the scripts/passwdmysql component, which handles password management functions for MySQL database users within the cPanel environment.
The technical flaw manifests as a failure to properly sanitize user input when processing the password parameter through the web interface. When an attacker submits malicious script code through this parameter, the application does not adequately validate or escape the input before rendering it in the web response. This allows the malicious code to execute within the context of other users' browsers who view the affected page, creating a persistent cross-site scripting vector. The vulnerability is classified as a classic reflected XSS attack since the malicious payload is immediately reflected back to the user without being stored on the server.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. An attacker could exploit this flaw to steal session cookies, authenticate as legitimate users, access sensitive administrative functions, or redirect users to malicious websites. Given that WHM provides administrative access to hosting environments, successful exploitation could lead to complete compromise of hosting accounts, data theft, and unauthorized modifications to web applications. The vulnerability affects not only the targeted users but also the hosting provider's infrastructure, potentially enabling attackers to escalate privileges and gain access to multiple customer accounts. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in shared hosting environments where multiple customers' data and applications reside on the same server.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of cPanel installations to version 11.0.1 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. Administrators should also implement proper input sanitization techniques, including HTML escaping of all user-supplied data before rendering in web responses. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can help detect and block malicious payloads, while regular security audits should verify that all input parameters are properly validated. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments or links, demonstrating how such vulnerabilities can serve as entry points for broader attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication and regular security training for administrators to reduce the risk of successful exploitation.