CVE-2016-10798 in before
Summary
by MITRE
cPanel before 58.0.4 allows a file-ownership change (to nobody) via rearrangeacct (SEC-134).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/22/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10798 affects cPanel versions prior to 58.0.4 and represents a critical file ownership manipulation flaw that can be exploited through the rearrangeacct utility. This issue falls under the category of privilege escalation and file system manipulation within web hosting control panels. The vulnerability specifically allows authenticated attackers with access to the rearrangeacct functionality to change file ownership to the 'nobody' user account, which typically has minimal privileges and restricted access to system resources. The rearrangeacct utility is designed for moving accounts between servers or partitions, but the implementation contains a security flaw that permits unintended file ownership changes during this process.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of account relocation procedures within cPanel's administrative framework. When an attacker executes the rearrangeacct command with specific parameters, the system fails to properly validate or enforce ownership constraints, allowing the transfer process to inadvertently change file ownership to the nobody user. This flaw represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and can lead to significant security implications including unauthorized access to sensitive account data, potential privilege escalation opportunities, and compromised system integrity. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the legitimate administrative tools of the system, making detection more challenging and exploitation more plausible.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file ownership changes and can severely compromise the security posture of systems running affected cPanel versions. When files are owned by the nobody user, they become accessible to processes running with minimal privileges, potentially allowing attackers to read sensitive configuration files, database credentials, or user data that should remain protected. This vulnerability can be leveraged to create persistent access points within hosting environments, as the nobody user typically has access to shared directories and can potentially manipulate web content or configuration files. The flaw also aligns with attack patterns documented in the attack technique matrix, specifically related to privilege escalation and lateral movement within compromised hosting environments. Organizations using affected cPanel versions face increased risk of data breaches, account hijacking, and unauthorized system access.
The remediation strategy for CVE-2016-10798 involves immediate upgrading to cPanel version 58.0.4 or later, which includes patches addressing the file ownership validation issue within the rearrangeacct utility. System administrators should also implement comprehensive monitoring of account relocation activities and file ownership changes, particularly those involving the nobody user account. Security controls should be enhanced to track and alert on unauthorized file ownership modifications, especially during account management operations. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and access control mechanisms within administrative utilities, aligning with security best practices outlined in standards such as the CWE taxonomy for improper privilege management and weak input validation. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their hosting environments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and ensure that all administrative tools maintain proper privilege boundaries to prevent unauthorized file ownership changes.