CVE-2016-10834 in cPanel
Summary
by MITRE
cPanel before 55.9999.141 allows account-suspension bypass via ftp (SEC-105).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/20/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10834 represents a critical security flaw in cPanel software versions prior to 55.9999.141 that enables unauthorized account suspension bypass through ftp protocol manipulation. This vulnerability specifically targets the account suspension mechanisms within cPanel's ftp service implementation, creating a pathway for malicious actors to circumvent administrative account suspension policies that should prevent access to suspended accounts.
The technical flaw resides in the improper validation and handling of ftp access requests when accounts are marked as suspended. When an account is suspended within cPanel, the system should prevent any form of access including ftp connections, yet this vulnerability allows attackers to establish ftp sessions that bypass these suspension controls. The underlying issue stems from insufficient input validation and access control checks within the ftp service component that processes authentication requests for suspended accounts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it undermines the fundamental security model of account suspension within cPanel environments. Attackers can exploit this flaw to maintain access to suspended accounts, potentially gaining access to sensitive data, files, and system resources that should be restricted. This bypass capability affects not only the immediate account but can also enable further privilege escalation attacks, as suspended accounts often retain administrative access rights that could be leveraged for system compromise. The vulnerability particularly impacts hosting providers who rely on cPanel for account management and security enforcement.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement patch management procedures to upgrade to cPanel version 55.9999.141 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for this account suspension bypass issue. Security administrators should also conduct immediate audits of suspended accounts to identify any unauthorized access that may have occurred prior to patching. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous ftp activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing multi-factor authentication and enhanced access logging can provide additional layers of protection against unauthorized access attempts.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in software systems, and demonstrates how insufficient access control mechanisms can create persistent security weaknesses. The attack pattern corresponds to techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under credential access and privilege escalation tactics, where adversaries exploit system weaknesses to maintain persistent access to compromised accounts. Organizations should consider implementing principle of least privilege controls and regular security assessments to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in their infrastructure components.