CVE-2016-10800 in cPanel
Summary
by MITRE
cPanel before 58.0.4 allows demo-mode escape via Site Templates and Boxtrapper API calls (SEC-138).
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/22/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10800 represents a critical security flaw in cPanel versions prior to 58.0.4 that enables unauthorized access through demo mode escape mechanisms. This vulnerability specifically affects the Site Templates and Boxtrapper API components within the cPanel interface, creating a pathway for malicious actors to bypass intended demo restrictions and gain elevated privileges. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized users to execute administrative functions through API calls that should only be accessible to authenticated administrators.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the lack of proper authentication checks within the API endpoints used by Site Templates and Boxtrapper functionality. When cPanel operates in demo mode, it typically restricts access to certain administrative features to prevent unauthorized modification of system configurations. However, the flaw in the API implementation allows attackers to craft specific requests that circumvent these restrictions, effectively enabling them to escape the demo environment and access full administrative capabilities. This represents a classic privilege escalation vulnerability where user-level access can be elevated to administrative privileges through improper API access controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows attackers to gain complete control over affected cPanel installations without requiring legitimate administrative credentials. An attacker could potentially modify website configurations, access sensitive user data, install malicious software, or alter system settings through the Boxtrapper API functions that handle email filtering and spam protection. The Site Templates functionality could be exploited to modify or replace critical website components, potentially leading to data breaches, service disruption, or complete system compromise. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and undermines the fundamental security model of the cPanel platform.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the patch released in cPanel version 58.0.4 which addresses the insufficient input validation and access control issues within the affected API endpoints. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive monitoring of API access logs to detect suspicious activity patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also review and strengthen their access control policies, ensuring that all API endpoints properly validate authentication tokens and implement appropriate authorization checks. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and represents a clear violation of the ATT&CK technique T1078 (Valid Accounts) as it allows unauthorized access through legitimate system interfaces. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates characteristics of T1543 (Create or Modify System Process) as it enables attackers to modify system configurations through legitimate API calls that should remain restricted to authorized administrators.