CVE-2011-4732 in Plesk Panel
Summary
by MITRE
The Server Administration Panel in Parallels Plesk Panel 10.2.0_build1011110331.18 omits the Content-Type header s charset parameter for certain resources, which might allow remote attackers to have an unspecified impact by leveraging an interpretation conflict involving account/power-mode-logout and certain other files. NOTE: it is possible that only clients, not the Plesk product, could be affected by this issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/23/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2011-4732 affects the Server Administration Panel within Parallels Plesk Panel version 10.2.0_build101110331.18, specifically concerning the handling of HTTP Content-Type headers for certain web resources. This issue represents a subtle but potentially significant security flaw that stems from improper header construction in web server responses. The vulnerability manifests when the system fails to include the charset parameter within the Content-Type header for specific files, particularly those related to account management functions such as account/power-mode-logout. This omission creates an interpretation conflict that could be exploited by remote attackers to manipulate how web browsers process and render the affected resources. The problem is categorized under CWE-692, which deals with incomplete or inconsistent specification of HTTP headers, making it a direct concern for web application security and proper HTTP protocol implementation.
The technical nature of this vulnerability lies in the HTTP response construction where the server fails to properly specify character encoding for certain web resources. When a Content-Type header is sent without the charset parameter, web browsers may default to using their own interpretation of character encoding, which can lead to inconsistent behavior across different client implementations. In this specific case, the affected files include account management functions that are critical to the administrative interface. The impact occurs through an interpretation conflict where different systems may interpret the same content differently, potentially leading to cross-site scripting vulnerabilities or other injection-based attacks. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, as it represents an attack vector through the web administration interface that could be exploited by remote threat actors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple content rendering issues, as it could potentially allow attackers to manipulate administrative sessions or inject malicious content into the management interface. While the description notes that the issue might primarily affect clients rather than the Plesk product itself, the implications for web application security remain significant. The vulnerability could enable attackers to perform session hijacking, manipulate administrative functions, or potentially gain unauthorized access to administrative resources through content injection attacks. The specific files mentioned in the vulnerability, particularly those related to power mode logout functionality, represent critical administrative endpoints that could be targeted for privilege escalation or session manipulation attacks. Organizations using this version of Plesk Panel should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader web application security posture.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-4732 should focus on implementing proper HTTP header construction practices within the web application. The most direct solution involves ensuring that all Content-Type headers include the appropriate charset parameter, typically utf-8, for all web resources served by the Plesk panel. This can be achieved through code-level fixes in the server administration panel implementation or through web server configuration adjustments that enforce proper header generation. Organizations should also implement comprehensive web application firewall rules that can detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting these specific administrative endpoints. Regular security assessments should include verification that HTTP headers are properly constructed and that all resources include appropriate charset specifications. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping web applications updated with the latest security patches, as this issue was likely addressed in subsequent releases of the Plesk Panel software. Additionally, network monitoring should be implemented to detect unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts targeting these administrative interfaces.