CVE-2007-6494 in Hosting Controller
Summary
by MITRE
Hosting Controller 6.1 Hot fix 3.3 and earlier allows remote attackers to obtain login access via a request to hosting/addreseller.asp with a username in the reseller parameter, followed by a request to AdminSettings/displays.asp with the DecideAction and ChangeSkin parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/12/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-6494 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw within Hosting Controller 6.1 Hot fix 3.3 and earlier versions. This issue stems from improper input validation and authentication handling mechanisms that allow unauthenticated remote attackers to escalate their privileges and gain administrative access to the system. The vulnerability specifically targets the administrative interface components of the hosting control panel, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that rely on this software for their web hosting infrastructure management.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves a two-step attack process that demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the application's access control implementation. Attackers first make a request to the hosting/addreseller.asp endpoint, passing a username value in the reseller parameter, which triggers an authentication bypass condition. Subsequently, they execute a second request to AdminSettings/displays.asp with specific parameters including DecideAction and ChangeSkin that leverage the initial bypass to escalate privileges. This sequential attack pattern indicates a design flaw where the application fails to properly validate user credentials and session states between different administrative functions.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a severe security risk for organizations using Hosting Controller 6.1 and earlier versions. Successful exploitation allows attackers to gain full administrative privileges, enabling them to manipulate hosting accounts, modify system configurations, access sensitive customer data, and potentially compromise the entire hosting infrastructure. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access or prior authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous for hosting providers who manage multiple client accounts. The vulnerability essentially provides a backdoor pathway for unauthorized access to critical administrative functions that should be protected by robust authentication mechanisms.
The flaw aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with the attack pattern described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation techniques. This vulnerability specifically relates to T1078 - Valid Accounts and T1548.001 - Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism, as it allows attackers to bypass legitimate authentication processes and gain elevated privileges. Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the available patches for Hosting Controller 6.1 Hot fix 3.4 or later, implementing network segmentation to restrict access to administrative interfaces, and deploying additional authentication controls such as two-factor authentication. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation and access control implementation, as the flaw could have been prevented through proper parameter validation and session management controls that would have prevented the exploitation sequence described in the CVE.