CVE-2016-10853 in cPanel
Summary
by MITRE
cPanel before 11.54.0.4 allows stored XSS in the WHM Feature Manager interface (SEC-86).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/20/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10853 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within the cPanel web hosting control panel system. This security weakness specifically affects versions prior to 11.54.0.4 and resides within the WHM Feature Manager interface, which serves as a crucial administrative component for managing hosting server configurations. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before storing and rendering it within the web interface. Attackers can exploit this flaw by injecting malicious JavaScript code through the Feature Manager's input fields, which then gets stored in the system's database and subsequently executed whenever the affected interface is accessed by legitimate users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which defines cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses that occur when an application includes untrusted data in a new web page without proper validation or escaping, or when it reuses a plain text string that should have been encoded. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that malicious payloads persist within the application's data storage, making the attack vector particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users over extended periods. When a victim accesses the WHM Feature Manager interface, their browser executes the malicious JavaScript code within the context of their session, potentially compromising their administrative privileges and enabling further attacks against the hosting environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it provides attackers with a powerful foothold for lateral movement within hosting environments. Administrators who access the compromised Feature Manager interface become potential victims of session hijacking, credential theft, or privilege escalation attacks that could result in complete compromise of the hosting server. The vulnerability's presence in WHM (Web Host Manager) interface particularly amplifies the risk since this component typically provides access to critical system-level functions and user management capabilities. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to modify hosting features, create malicious accounts, or manipulate system configurations that affect multiple customer accounts, thereby causing widespread disruption and potential data breaches across the affected hosting infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-10853 must prioritize immediate remediation through the application of the official cPanel patch released in version 11.54.0.4, which addresses the input validation deficiencies in the Feature Manager interface. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures that enforce strict validation of all user-supplied data, including the implementation of proper output encoding mechanisms that prevent malicious scripts from executing in the browser context. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional layers of protection against similar vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1059.007 for JavaScript execution and T1566 for credential access through web applications, highlighting the need for multi-layered defensive strategies that address both the immediate exploit and potential post-compromise activities. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning of hosting infrastructure should be conducted to identify similar stored XSS vulnerabilities that may exist in other components of the cPanel system or related administrative interfaces.