CVE-2016-10822 in cPanel
Summary
by MITRE
cPanel before 55.9999.141 allows self XSS in X3 Reseller Branding Images (SEC-88).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/20/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2016-10822 represents a self-cross-site scripting flaw in cPanel versions prior to 55.9999.141 that specifically affects the X3 Reseller Branding Images functionality. This issue falls under the category of insecure input handling where user-supplied data is not properly sanitized before being rendered in web interfaces. The vulnerability is classified as a self-XSS because it allows authenticated users within the cPanel environment to inject malicious scripts that execute in their own browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking or data exfiltration.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the X3 reseller branding module where administrators can upload custom images to brand their cPanel installations. When users upload images with malicious payloads in their filenames or metadata, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize these inputs before displaying them in the web interface. This allows attackers who have access to the cPanel administration to create crafted image files that contain malicious javascript code. The flaw is particularly concerning because it operates within the trusted administrative environment, meaning that legitimate administrators who are compromised could be exploited to perform malicious actions against themselves or other users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks within the cPanel environment. An attacker could potentially create a malicious branding image that, when viewed by an administrator, would steal session cookies or redirect the user to malicious sites. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous in multi-tenant hosting environments where resellers might have access to sensitive customer data. The self-XSS nature means that even if the attacker doesn't have direct access to the hosting infrastructure, they can exploit the trust relationship between the cPanel interface and the administrator to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information or perform actions within the cPanel environment.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is directly output to web pages without proper validation or encoding. This specific issue also maps to ATT&CK technique T1547.001 which covers registry run keys and startup folder, as the malicious scripts could potentially modify system configurations or establish persistence mechanisms. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates characteristics of T1071.004 which involves application layer protocol usage for command and control communications, as the malicious scripts could be designed to communicate with external servers. Organizations using cPanel should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to version 55.9999.141 or later, implementing strict input validation for branding image uploads, and monitoring for suspicious administrative activities. The fix typically involves proper sanitization of user inputs and implementation of Content Security Policy headers to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts in the context of the cPanel interface.