CVE-2016-10801 in cPanel
Summary
by MITRE
cPanel before 58.0.4 has improper session handling for shared users (SEC-139).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/22/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10801 affects cPanel versions prior to 58.0.4 and relates to improper session handling for shared users within the control panel environment. This issue represents a significant security weakness that directly impacts the authentication and authorization mechanisms of the cPanel platform, which is widely used by hosting providers and system administrators to manage web hosting accounts. The vulnerability specifically targets the session management processes that govern how shared hosting users interact with the system, creating potential pathways for unauthorized access and privilege escalation.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate session validation and management when multiple users share access to the same cPanel account or resources. In shared hosting environments, multiple users often require access to the same account or specific resources, but the improper session handling means that authentication tokens or session identifiers may not be properly validated or isolated between different user contexts. This weakness allows an attacker who gains access to one user's session to potentially impersonate other users within the same shared account or access resources that should be restricted to specific users. The vulnerability manifests when the system fails to properly distinguish between legitimate user sessions and potentially compromised or unauthorized access attempts, particularly in scenarios where shared users exist within the same administrative context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges and gain broader system control. When shared users exist within cPanel environments, the improper session handling can allow an attacker to access other users' data, modify account settings, or potentially execute commands with elevated privileges. This is particularly concerning in hosting environments where multiple customers share the same server resources or where administrative accounts have access to multiple customer accounts. The vulnerability can be exploited to conduct account takeover attacks, data exfiltration, or to establish persistent access within shared hosting environments, making it a critical concern for hosting providers and system administrators who rely on cPanel for their infrastructure management.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-10801 primarily involve upgrading to cPanel version 58.0.4 or later, which includes proper session handling mechanisms that address the identified weakness. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts, regular session timeout configurations, and monitoring for unusual session activity patterns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in session management, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1548.003 for abuse of session management. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of shared user configurations and ensure that proper access controls are implemented to prevent unauthorized session reuse or impersonation, particularly in environments where multiple users require access to shared resources or accounts.