CVE-2009-4823 in cPanel
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in frontend/x3/files/fileop.html in cPanel 11.0 through 11.24.7 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the fileop parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/13/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-4823 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the cPanel web interface that affects versions 11.0 through 11.24.7. This security weakness resides in the frontend/x3/files/fileop.html component of the cPanel software, which is widely used by web hosting providers and system administrators for managing web server files and configurations. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input passed through the fileop parameter, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts within the context of authenticated users' browsers.
The technical nature of this flaw aligns with CWE-79, which defines cross-site scripting as a code injection vulnerability where untrusted data is embedded into web pages viewed by other users. In this case, the fileop parameter serves as the injection vector, allowing attackers to craft malicious payloads that get executed when the vulnerable page renders. The vulnerability is classified as a reflected XSS attack since the malicious script is reflected back to the user through the web application's response. Attackers can leverage this weakness to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious websites that appear legitimate.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to compromise the entire cPanel administrative interface. Given that cPanel serves as a critical management tool for hosting environments, successful exploitation could allow threat actors to access sensitive server configurations, modify file permissions, create malicious accounts, or even gain access to customer data stored on the server. The vulnerability affects authenticated users who have access to the cPanel interface, making it particularly dangerous in shared hosting environments where multiple customers share the same server infrastructure.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, including input validation, output encoding, and proper parameter sanitization within the application code. The recommended remediation involves upgrading to cPanel versions 11.25.0 or later, where the XSS vulnerability has been addressed through proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Additionally, organizations should deploy web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads targeting this specific parameter, while implementing strict access controls and monitoring for unusual administrative activities. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and adhering to secure coding practices as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's web application exploitation techniques, particularly those related to client-side code injection and credential theft through session manipulation.