CVE-2016-10796 in cPanel
Summary
by MITRE
cPanel before 58.0.4 initially uses weak permissions for Apache HTTP Server log files (SEC-130).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/21/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10796 affects cPanel versions prior to 58.0.4 and relates to the improper handling of Apache HTTP Server log file permissions within the cPanel environment. This issue represents a significant security weakness that can compromise the confidentiality and integrity of system logs that are critical for monitoring and forensic analysis. The problem stems from cPanel's default configuration where log files are created with overly permissive access controls, allowing unauthorized users to read sensitive information contained within these files. The weakness specifically targets the initial permission settings applied to Apache log files, which are typically used to track web server activity, user access patterns, and potential security incidents. When log files are created with weak permissions, they become accessible to users who should not have read access, potentially exposing session identifiers, authentication tokens, and other sensitive data that may be logged during web requests.
The technical flaw manifests in the cPanel software's failure to properly enforce secure default permissions for Apache log files during their initial creation process. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of improper permission settings as classified by CWE-732, which specifically addresses inadequate access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized access to system resources. The weak permissions typically involve log files being created with world-readable or group-readable attributes, which violates fundamental security principles that require logs to be accessible only to authorized system administrators and security monitoring tools. This misconfiguration creates an attack surface where malicious actors can gain access to potentially sensitive information that should remain protected, including user credentials, session data, and system access patterns that could be leveraged for further exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it undermines the integrity of the system's security monitoring infrastructure. When Apache log files contain sensitive information and are accessible to unauthorized users, it compromises the organization's ability to effectively monitor system activity and detect potential security incidents. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gather intelligence about system usage patterns, identify vulnerable applications, and potentially track user activities across the web server. The vulnerability also affects compliance requirements for many organizations, as proper log file permissions are often mandated by security standards such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The exposure of log file contents can also facilitate more sophisticated attacks, as adversaries may discover system vulnerabilities, authentication methods, or application weaknesses that are logged during normal operation. Additionally, this issue can impact forensic investigations, as compromised log files may contain inaccurate or incomplete information that could mislead security analysts during incident response activities.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability by upgrading to cPanel version 58.0.4 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to properly enforce secure permissions for Apache log files. System administrators should also conduct thorough audits of existing log file permissions to ensure that no legacy files retain weak access controls. The remediation process should include verifying that log files are created with restrictive permissions, typically limiting access to the root user and specific system administrators. Security teams should implement monitoring procedures to detect any unauthorized access attempts to log files and establish regular permission reviews as part of their security operations. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation in web server environments and highlights the need for security-conscious default configurations in management interfaces. The issue also reinforces the necessity of maintaining current software versions and implementing automated patch management processes to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing additional logging controls and access monitoring to detect potential abuse of log file access, as this represents a fundamental security control that, when compromised, can significantly weaken overall system security posture and incident response capabilities.