CVE-2016-10792 in cPanel
Summary
by MITRE
cPanel before 59.9999.145 allows code execution in the context of other accounts via mailman list archives (SEC-141).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/21/2020
This vulnerability resides within the cPanel web hosting control panel software, specifically affecting versions prior to 59.9999.145. The flaw manifests through the mailman list archives functionality, which represents a critical security oversight in the privilege escalation mechanisms of the hosting platform. The vulnerability enables an attacker to execute arbitrary code within the context of other user accounts, effectively bypassing the standard isolation mechanisms that should protect individual customer environments from one another.
The technical exploitation occurs through the mailman list archives component where improper input validation and access control measures allow malicious actors to manipulate the archive processing functionality. This vulnerability specifically leverages the way cPanel handles mailman list archive operations, creating a pathway for code execution that transcends normal account boundaries. The flaw operates at the application level where user-supplied data is not adequately sanitized before being processed within the mailman archive system. This represents a classic privilege escalation vulnerability that aligns with CWE-264, which addresses permissions, privileges, and access controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to other customers' accounts within the same hosting environment. This creates a significant risk for shared hosting providers where multiple customers' data and applications coexist on the same infrastructure. An attacker could potentially extract sensitive information, modify files, install backdoors, or escalate privileges to gain root access on the hosting server. The vulnerability essentially undermines the fundamental security model of shared hosting environments where account isolation is paramount for protecting customer data.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1078 for valid accounts and T1548 for privilege escalation. The attack vector specifically targets the mailman functionality which is commonly used for legitimate mailing list operations, making the exploitation more difficult to detect through standard monitoring systems. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability requires the mailman service to be enabled and configured within the cPanel environment, but once exploited, provides a persistent foothold for attackers to move laterally across multiple customer accounts.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate upgrading of cPanel installations to version 59.9999.145 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the input validation and access control issues. Organizations should also implement network-level monitoring to detect unusual mailman archive processing activities and consider disabling mailman functionality if it is not actively required. Additionally, implementing proper account isolation measures and regularly auditing access logs can help identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software in shared hosting environments where a single flaw can compromise multiple customer accounts simultaneously.