CVE-2016-10844 in cPanel
Summary
by MITRE
The chcpass script in cPanel before 11.54.0.4 reveals a password hash (SEC-77).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/20/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10844 represents a critical security flaw in cPanel software versions prior to 11.54.0.4, specifically within the chcpass script functionality. This issue falls under the category of information disclosure vulnerabilities where sensitive authentication data becomes inadvertently exposed to unauthorized parties. The chcpass script is designed to handle password changes for cPanel accounts, but due to improper access controls and output handling, it fails to adequately protect password hash information during the change process. This vulnerability directly contravenes security best practices for credential management and access control mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the chcpass script failing to properly sanitize or restrict access to password hash information when processing user account modifications. When users attempt to change their passwords through the cPanel interface, the script may inadvertently expose hash values in its output or response handling. This occurs due to insufficient input validation and output filtering mechanisms that should normally prevent sensitive data from being transmitted to unauthorized clients. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the authentication layer where password hashes are typically protected from unauthorized access. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in information disclosure where sensitive data is exposed through improper access control mechanisms. The flaw essentially creates a path where password hash information bypasses normal security boundaries that should protect authentication credentials from being accessed by unauthorized parties.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as password hashes can be exploited by attackers to perform offline password cracking attacks or to facilitate credential reuse attacks against other systems. When an attacker gains access to a password hash through this vulnerability, they can attempt to crack the hash using various techniques such as rainbow table attacks or brute force methods to recover the original password. This creates a significant risk for cPanel users whose accounts may be compromised through this information disclosure channel. The vulnerability also enables privilege escalation scenarios where attackers can leverage the exposed hash information to gain unauthorized access to additional user accounts or system resources. From an attacker's perspective, this represents a low-effort, high-impact method for obtaining authentication credentials that can be used for lateral movement within the compromised environment.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to cPanel version 11.54.0.4 or later where the issue has been addressed through proper access control enforcement and output sanitization. The fix typically involves implementing stricter input validation for the chcpass script to ensure that password hash information is only accessible to authorized users and processes. Security measures should also include monitoring for unauthorized access attempts and implementing proper logging of password change operations to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their cPanel installations to identify any other potential information disclosure vulnerabilities in related scripts or modules. The remediation process should also include verifying that proper access controls are in place for all authentication-related scripts and ensuring that sensitive data is not inadvertently exposed through error messages or response handling. This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in authentication systems and serves as a reminder of the critical nature of protecting credential information from unauthorized disclosure.