CVE-2016-10797 in cPanel
Summary
by MITRE
cPanel before 58.0.4 allows WHM "Purchase and Install an SSL Certificate" page visitors to list all server domains (SEC-133).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/21/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10797 affects cPanel versions prior to 58.0.4 and represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the WHM (Web Host Manager) interface. This vulnerability specifically impacts the "Purchase and Install an SSL Certificate" page functionality, where authenticated users can exploit a design flaw to enumerate all domains hosted on the server. The issue stems from insufficient access controls and input validation mechanisms that fail to properly restrict domain listing capabilities to authorized personnel only. Security researchers have categorized this as a privilege escalation and information disclosure vulnerability, as it allows unauthorized enumeration of system resources that should remain confidential. The flaw essentially provides attackers with a comprehensive view of all domains managed by the cPanel instance, potentially exposing sensitive information about the hosting infrastructure and customer base.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the WHM administrative interface where the SSL certificate purchase and installation process lacks proper authorization checks. When users navigate to the SSL certificate management page, the system fails to validate whether the requesting user possesses adequate privileges to access domain enumeration functions. This design oversight enables any authenticated WHM user to submit requests that bypass normal access controls, resulting in the disclosure of all domains registered on the server. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the administrative layer where users should have restricted access to system information. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in authorization mechanisms and information exposure, specifically falling under CWE-200 for exposure of sensitive information and CWE-284 for improper access control. The flaw demonstrates poor input sanitization and inadequate session management practices that allow privilege escalation through legitimate administrative functions.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-10797 extends beyond simple information disclosure, creating significant security risks for hosting providers and their customers. Attackers who exploit this vulnerability gain comprehensive knowledge of all domains hosted on the target server, which can facilitate targeted attacks against specific websites, identify potential attack vectors, and enable reconnaissance for further exploitation. The disclosure of domain information may reveal sensitive details about business operations, customer bases, and infrastructure configurations that could be leveraged in social engineering attacks or more sophisticated penetration testing efforts. This vulnerability particularly affects hosting environments where multiple clients share the same cPanel instance, as it provides attackers with a complete inventory of potential targets. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1212 for Exploitation for Credential Access and T1083 for File and Directory Discovery, as it enables adversaries to gather system information that can be used for further compromise. The impact is compounded when considering that cPanel administrators often have elevated privileges and access to multiple customer accounts, making this a valuable target for attackers seeking to expand their access within the hosting environment.
Organizations affected by CVE-2016-10797 should immediately implement the available patch updates to cPanel version 58.0.4 or later, which addresses the authorization bypass flaw in the SSL certificate management interface. System administrators should conduct comprehensive audits of their cPanel installations to verify that all instances have been updated and that proper access controls are in place. Additional mitigations include implementing network segmentation to limit access to WHM administrative interfaces, enforcing strict authentication mechanisms including multi-factor authentication, and regularly reviewing user permissions to ensure that access rights are appropriately scoped. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual enumeration activities and unauthorized access attempts to administrative interfaces. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests targeting administrative functions, particularly those that attempt to bypass normal access controls. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be performed to identify similar authorization flaws in other administrative components of the hosting infrastructure. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper access control implementation and the potential consequences of insufficient authorization checks in administrative interfaces.