CVE-2008-0370 in cPanel
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in dohtaccess.html in cPanel before 11.17 build 19417 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the rurl parameter. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2018
The CVE-2008-0370 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in cPanel's dohtaccess.html component prior to version 11.17 build 19417. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically targeting the rurl parameter within the web application's access control mechanisms. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content into the application's response, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity. The vulnerability exists within cPanel's administrative interface where users can configure URL redirection rules through the dohtaccess.html page, making it a significant risk for system administrators who rely on this functionality for web server configuration.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing script code within the rurl parameter and delivers it to a victim who is authenticated to the cPanel interface. When the victim clicks on the malicious link or the application processes the parameter without proper input validation, the injected script executes within the victim's browser context. This allows attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of web content, and potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive system resources. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic input sanitization failure where user-supplied data enters the application without adequate filtering or encoding mechanisms, creating an attack surface that violates fundamental web security principles.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-0370 extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with a potential pathway to escalate privileges and compromise entire web hosting environments. System administrators who utilize cPanel's URL redirection features are particularly vulnerable since the flaw exists in core administrative functionality rather than in less critical components. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal administrator credentials, modify website content, redirect users to malicious sites, or even establish persistent backdoors within the hosting infrastructure. The vulnerability's presence in cPanel's access control mechanisms means that successful exploitation could lead to complete compromise of web server configurations, affecting multiple websites hosted on the same server. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for Initial Access through Phishing and T1078.004 for Valid Accounts through legitimate credentials obtained through credential access.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including upgrading to cPanel version 11.17 build 19417 or later where the vulnerability has been patched. Additional protective measures include implementing robust input validation at the application level, applying proper HTML encoding to all user-supplied data, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of all cPanel installations and implement monitoring for suspicious access patterns. The remediation process must include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce regressions in legitimate functionality while maintaining the security posture of the hosting environment. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege access controls and regular security audits to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of their web infrastructure, aligning with security frameworks that emphasize defense in depth and continuous monitoring practices.