CVE-2011-4734 in Plesk Panel
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in the Control Panel in Parallels Plesk Panel 10.2.0 build 20110407.20 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via crafted input to a PHP script, as demonstrated by file-manager/ and certain other files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/28/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4734 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Control Panel of Parallels Plesk Panel version 10.2.0 build 20110407.20. This security weakness exists in the web-based administrative interface that system administrators use to manage hosting services and server configurations. The vulnerability specifically affects the file-manager/ directory and other related PHP scripts within the control panel environment, making it a significant threat to hosting providers and their clients who rely on this platform for web hosting management.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the PHP scripts that handle user-supplied data. When attackers submit maliciously crafted input through the control panel interface, particularly in file management operations, the application fails to properly escape or filter the input before incorporating it into SQL database queries. This allows attackers to inject arbitrary SQL commands that execute with the privileges of the database user account used by the Plesk application. The vulnerability falls under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper validation or escaping mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft or manipulation. Remote attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can gain complete control over the database backend that powers the Plesk control panel, potentially accessing sensitive customer information, server configurations, and hosting account details. The attack surface is particularly concerning because Plesk panels often manage multiple hosting accounts, making each compromised system a potential gateway for attacking numerous customer websites and applications. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 which describes the exploitation of vulnerabilities in web applications to gain unauthorized access to systems and data.
The implications for system administrators and hosting providers are severe, as this vulnerability could enable attackers to escalate privileges, modify or delete critical system data, and potentially use the compromised system as a stepping stone for further attacks within a network infrastructure. Organizations running affected versions of Parallels Plesk Panel face significant risk of data breaches, service disruption, and potential regulatory compliance violations. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and the principle of least privilege in web application security, as proper sanitization of user input could have prevented the exploitation of this flaw. Organizations should immediately implement patches provided by Parallels, conduct thorough security assessments of their hosting environments, and consider implementing additional monitoring and access controls to detect potential exploitation attempts.