CVE-2010-2476 in syscp
Summary
by MITRE
syscp 1.4.2.1 allows attackers to add arbitrary paths via the documentroot of a domain by appending a colon to it and setting the open basedir path to use that domain documentroot.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/08/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2476 affects syscp version 1.4.2.1, a web-based control panel for managing hosting environments. This flaw represents a critical path traversal and privilege escalation vulnerability that stems from improper input validation within the documentroot handling mechanism. The vulnerability specifically exploits how the system processes domain documentroot configurations, creating a dangerous condition where malicious actors can manipulate path resolution through carefully crafted input sequences.
The technical exploitation occurs when an attacker appends a colon character to a domain's documentroot specification, which then allows the system to interpret the open basedir path configuration in an unintended manner. This manipulation leverages the underlying PHP configuration settings that control file access restrictions, effectively bypassing the intended security boundaries. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of path handling and configuration management, where the colon character serves as a delimiter that the system incorrectly processes, leading to unauthorized path resolution. This flaw directly relates to CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to potentially enabling full system compromise. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary code, access restricted files, and potentially escalate privileges within the hosting environment. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security model of the control panel, as it allows unauthorized users to bypass the intended filesystem boundaries that protect sensitive system files and directories. This creates a persistent threat vector that could be exploited to gain access to other domains hosted on the same system, potentially leading to widespread compromise of multiple customer accounts. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that syscp is designed to manage hosting environments where multiple users share the same infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate code-level fix and broader security posture improvements. The primary remediation involves implementing proper input validation and sanitization for all documentroot and open basedir configuration parameters, ensuring that special characters like colons are properly escaped or rejected. Organizations should also implement strict configuration management practices that prevent arbitrary path manipulation through user inputs. This vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adheres to ATT&CK technique T1059 for executing malicious code through web application vulnerabilities. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as mandatory access controls, file integrity monitoring, and regular security assessments to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical need for input validation and proper path handling in web applications, particularly those managing hosting environments where security boundaries are paramount to protecting customer data and system integrity.