CVE-2007-4892 in Plesk
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in SWSoft Plesk 7.6.1, 8.1.0, 8.1.1, and 8.2.0 for Windows allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via a PLESKSESSID cookie to (1) login.php3 or (2) auth.php3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/27/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-4892 represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting SWSoft Plesk versions 7.6.1, 8.1.0, 8.1.1, and 8.2.0 on Windows platforms. This vulnerability resides in the authentication handling mechanisms of the Plesk control panel, specifically within the login.php3 and auth.php3 scripts. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate the PLESKSESSID cookie parameter, which serves as the session identifier for user authentication. This particular vulnerability falls under CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection as a direct result of improper input validation and insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data before database queries are executed. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it operates entirely over network protocols without requiring any local access or elevated privileges.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious PLESKSESSID cookie value that contains specially formatted SQL commands. When the vulnerable Plesk scripts process this cookie value in their database queries, the malicious SQL code gets executed within the context of the database server. This creates a scenario where attackers can potentially extract sensitive information, modify database records, or even gain unauthorized access to administrative functions. The vulnerability affects the authentication flow because the system fails to properly validate or escape the cookie data before incorporating it into SQL statements, leading to a classic SQL injection attack pattern that aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts and T1046 for remote service access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to compromise the entire Plesk control panel environment. Attackers could potentially escalate privileges to administrative levels, modify user accounts, access customer data, or even use the compromised system as a launching point for further attacks within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of Plesk, indicating it was a persistent flaw in the authentication subsystem that required patching across several releases. Organizations running these vulnerable versions face significant risk, particularly in hosting environments where Plesk serves as the primary control interface for multiple customer accounts and websites. The remote nature of the attack means that even a single compromised session could provide attackers with access to the entire control panel's administrative functions, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for web hosting providers and managed service providers.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-4892 primarily focus on immediate patching and implementation of proper input validation measures. Organizations should immediately upgrade to patched versions of SWSoft Plesk that address this vulnerability, as the vendor released security updates specifically targeting this SQL injection flaw. Additionally, implementing proper cookie validation and sanitization techniques can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other applications. Network-based protections such as web application firewalls should be configured to monitor for suspicious cookie values and block potentially malicious SQL injection patterns. The implementation of principle of least privilege and regular security audits of authentication systems can further reduce the risk of exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing database query parameterization and prepared statements as defensive measures against SQL injection attacks, aligning with industry best practices for secure coding and the recommendations outlined in the OWASP Top Ten project.