CVE-2011-4748 in Plesk Panel
Summary
by MITRE
The billing system for Parallels Plesk Panel 10.3.1_build1013110726.09 has web pages containing e-mail addresses that are not intended for correspondence about the local application deployment, which allows remote attackers to obtain potentially sensitive information by reading a page, as demonstrated by js/ajax/core/ajax.inc.js and certain other files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/25/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4748 affects the billing system component of Parallels Plesk Panel version 10.3.1_build1013110726.09, representing a significant information disclosure weakness that exposes sensitive data through improperly configured web pages. This issue resides within the web application's user interface components where email addresses are embedded in javascript files and other web resources without proper access controls or sanitization measures. The vulnerability specifically manifests in files such as js/ajax/core/ajax.inc.js and similar components that contain email addresses intended for administrative or support purposes rather than public-facing communication channels. The exposure occurs through the web server's response to client requests, where attackers can retrieve these files and extract the embedded email addresses without authentication or authorization.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization practices within the Parallels Plesk Panel's billing system implementation. When the web application serves pages containing these email addresses, it fails to distinguish between internal administrative contact information and publicly accessible communication endpoints. This misconfiguration creates an information disclosure scenario where remote attackers can trivially obtain email addresses that may be used for social engineering attacks, spam campaigns, or targeted phishing attempts against system administrators and support personnel. The vulnerability is classified as a weakness in data exposure and information leakage, aligning with CWE-200, which addresses information exposure through improper data handling and access control mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the exposed email addresses can serve as entry points for more sophisticated attacks. Attackers who obtain these addresses can leverage them for credential harvesting, spear-phishing campaigns, or to identify potential targets within the organization's administrative structure. The exposure affects not only the immediate security posture but also creates opportunities for attackers to map the organizational hierarchy and identify key personnel who maintain the billing systems. This vulnerability demonstrates poor security design principles and highlights the importance of implementing proper access controls and data sanitization measures in web applications, particularly those handling sensitive business information.
Organizations using affected versions of Parallels Plesk Panel should implement immediate mitigations including removing or obfuscating email addresses from publicly accessible web files, implementing proper access controls for administrative resources, and conducting comprehensive security reviews of all web application components. The recommended approach involves ensuring that no sensitive contact information is exposed through web server responses, particularly in javascript files and other client-side resources. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to monitor and filter access to potentially sensitive resources, while establishing proper logging and monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized access attempts. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding practices, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1566 for social engineering and T1083 for file and directory discovery, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security controls throughout the application lifecycle.