CVE-2011-4766 in Plesk Small Business Panel
Summary
by MITRE
** DISPUTED ** The Site Editor (aka SiteBuilder) feature in Parallels Plesk Small Business Panel 10.2.0 allows remote attackers to obtain ASP source code via a direct request to wysiwyg/fckconfig.js. NOTE: CVE disputes this issue because ASP is only used in a JavaScript comment.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4766 pertains to the Site Editor functionality within Parallels Plesk Small Business Panel version 10.2.0, representing a potential information disclosure concern that could affect web server security configurations. This issue specifically involves the SiteBuilder feature which provides users with a graphical interface for creating and managing website content. The vulnerability arises from how the system handles requests to certain configuration files within the wysiwyg directory, particularly the fckconfig.js file that serves as a configuration endpoint for the rich text editor component.
The technical flaw manifests when remote attackers can directly access the wysiwyg/fckconfig.js file through a simple HTTP request, potentially exposing sensitive ASP source code fragments within JavaScript comments. This occurs because the system fails to properly validate or restrict access to configuration files that may contain embedded server-side scripting elements. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no authentication or privileged access to exploit, making it particularly concerning from a security perspective. The issue demonstrates a lack of proper access control mechanisms and input validation within the web application's file serving logic.
From an operational impact standpoint, this vulnerability could allow attackers to gain insights into the underlying server-side technologies and potentially identify other security weaknesses in the hosting environment. While the reported disclosure is limited to JavaScript comments containing ASP code snippets, such information could aid attackers in crafting more sophisticated attacks targeting specific server configurations. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality aspect of the CIA triad by potentially exposing source code elements that could reveal implementation details, server paths, or other sensitive information. Organizations using this version of Plesk may face increased risk of targeted attacks that leverage the disclosed information to exploit additional vulnerabilities.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of broader web application security frameworks and attack methodologies. The issue aligns with CWE-200, which covers information exposure, and could potentially be leveraged as part of a reconnaissance phase in accordance with ATT&CK technique T1592 for reconnaissance. Organizations should implement proper access controls and file permission configurations to prevent unauthorized access to configuration files. The disputed nature of this CVE indicates that security researchers have questioned the severity of the actual impact, suggesting that the information disclosure may be limited to non-critical JavaScript comments rather than actual executable code. However, even limited information exposure represents a potential security risk that should be addressed through proper configuration management and access restriction policies. Remediation efforts should focus on implementing proper access controls for configuration files and ensuring that sensitive information is not inadvertently exposed through web server responses.