CVE-2011-4737 in Plesk Panel
Summary
by MITRE
The Control Panel in Parallels Plesk Panel 10.2.0 build 20110407.20 includes a submitted password within an HTTP response body, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information by sniffing the network, as demonstrated by password handling in client@2/domain@1/odbc/dsn@1/properties/.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4737 resides within the Control Panel functionality of Parallels Plesk Panel version 10.2.0 build 20110407.20, representing a critical security flaw that exposes sensitive authentication credentials through improper HTTP response handling. This vulnerability specifically affects the administrative interface where password information is inadvertently included in HTTP response bodies during certain operations, creating an attack surface that can be exploited by malicious actors monitoring network traffic.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the control panel's password handling mechanisms. When users perform administrative tasks such as managing client accounts, domain configurations, or ODBC data source name operations, the system fails to properly mask or exclude password information from HTTP responses. This flaw directly violates security principles outlined in CWE-200, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper data handling. The vulnerability manifests particularly when accessing specific paths within the control panel structure, including the client2/domain1/odbc/dsn@1/properties/ endpoint where the password information becomes embedded in the response payload.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure, as it provides attackers with the means to conduct passive reconnaissance and credential harvesting attacks. Network sniffing tools can capture these HTTP responses and extract password information without requiring any active exploitation or authentication attempts. This weakness enables attackers to gain unauthorized access to administrative accounts, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data breaches, and unauthorized modifications to web hosting environments. The vulnerability affects organizations using Parallels Plesk Panel 10.2.0, creating a persistent threat vector that can be exploited by attackers with minimal technical expertise, as demonstrated through the specific attack path involving ODBC DSN properties.
From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under the credential access and reconnaissance domains, specifically mapping to techniques involving credential dumping and network sniffing. The exposure of password information through HTTP responses represents a fundamental failure in secure communication practices and violates industry standards such as those outlined in NIST SP 800-53, which emphasizes the importance of protecting sensitive information during transmission. Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including network traffic encryption through HTTPS, input validation improvements, and comprehensive security auditing of administrative interfaces. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper output sanitization and the need for security controls that prevent sensitive data leakage through various communication channels, as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security principles and the ISO 27001 information security management standards.