CVE-2016-10772 in cPanel
Summary
by MITRE
cPanel before 60.0.25 does not enforce feature-list restrictions when calling the multilang adminbin (SEC-168).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/20/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10772 affects cPanel versions prior to 60.0.25 and represents a critical authorization bypass flaw within the administrative interface. This issue specifically targets the multilang adminbin component which handles language-specific administrative functions. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of feature list restrictions during administrative operations, allowing unauthorized access to restricted administrative functions. The flaw exists in the core permission enforcement mechanism that should prevent users from accessing features beyond their assigned privileges.
This technical weakness manifests when the multilang adminbin component fails to properly verify user permissions against the configured feature list restrictions. The vulnerability operates at the application level and can be exploited through the administrative API or web interface. Attackers can leverage this flaw to bypass normal access controls and execute administrative functions that should be restricted to authorized users only. The issue is particularly concerning because it affects the fundamental security model of cPanel's administrative interface, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to sensitive system functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables attackers to perform administrative actions that could compromise entire hosting environments. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially modify system configurations, manage user accounts, access sensitive data, or even compromise the underlying hosting infrastructure. The vulnerability affects cPanel installations that have not been updated to version 60.0.25 or later, leaving thousands of hosting environments exposed to potential compromise. This flaw directly impacts the principle of least privilege and can result in complete administrative control over affected systems.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the remediation measures provided by cPanel, including updating to version 60.0.25 or later. The fix addresses the core permission enforcement issue by implementing proper validation of feature list restrictions within the multilang adminbin component. Additional mitigations should include monitoring for unauthorized administrative access attempts and reviewing existing administrative user permissions. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which describes improper access control issues, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts for privilege escalation. The remediation process should also involve comprehensive security auditing of administrative interfaces to identify similar permission enforcement gaps in related systems.