CVE-2011-4745 in Plesk Panel
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the billing system for Parallels Plesk Panel 10.3.1_build1013110726.09 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via crafted input to a PHP script, as demonstrated by admin/index.php/default and certain other files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/17/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4745 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the billing system component of Parallels Plesk Panel version 10.3.1_build1013110726.09. This security weakness resides in the administrative interface of the popular web hosting control panel solution, specifically affecting the admin/index.php/default endpoint and other related PHP scripts. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated user sessions, potentially compromising the entire hosting environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the billing system's PHP scripts. When administrators or users interact with the affected endpoints, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in web responses. This allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that persist in the application's user interface, executing in the browser context of legitimate users who view the affected pages. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, making it a classic instance of improper neutralization of input during web page generation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to perform session hijacking, steal administrative credentials, and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive hosting infrastructure. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to manipulate billing records, redirect users to malicious sites, or execute arbitrary commands within the hosting environment. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it targets the administrative interface where privileged users have extensive system access, making the compromise of these endpoints potentially catastrophic for hosting providers and their customers.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-4745 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected Parallels Plesk Panel version, as the vendor likely released a security update addressing this specific vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms, employ proper output encoding for all dynamic content, and establish robust web application firewall rules to detect and block suspicious script injection attempts. Security teams should also conduct thorough penetration testing of their hosting infrastructure to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components and ensure proper access controls are in place to limit the potential impact of such attacks. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique for script injection, emphasizing the need for defensive measures that address both the exploitation vector and the broader attack surface of web applications.