CVE-2016-10854 in cPanel
Summary
by MITRE
cPanel before 11.54.0.4 allows self XSS in the X3 Entropy Banner interface (SEC-87).
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/20/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2016-10854 represents a self cross-site scripting flaw discovered in cPanel versions prior to 11.54.0.4 within the X3 Entropy Banner interface. This security weakness falls under the category of CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into web page content. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the administrative interface of cPanel, which is a widely used control panel for managing web hosting environments and server configurations.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs within the X3 Entropy Banner component of cPanel's user interface where user-provided input is not adequately sanitized or escaped before being rendered back to the browser. When an attacker can manipulate the banner interface to inject malicious script code, they can execute arbitrary JavaScript within the context of the victim's browser session. This self-XSS vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited by attackers who have already gained access to a user account, potentially escalating privileges or extracting sensitive information from the authenticated session.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can be leveraged to perform session hijacking attacks, steal authentication tokens, or redirect users to malicious websites. In a hosting environment where cPanel is used for managing multiple client accounts, an attacker could exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive customer data or server configurations. The attack vector typically involves an attacker with legitimate access to a cPanel account who can manipulate the banner interface to inject malicious JavaScript code that will execute in the context of other users' sessions.
According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, as it enables the execution of malicious JavaScript code within web browsers. The vulnerability also relates to T1566 - Phishing, as attackers can use the injected scripts to craft convincing phishing attacks that appear legitimate within the cPanel interface. Additionally, this flaw contributes to T1547.001 - Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder, as the malicious scripts could potentially modify system configurations or establish persistence mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate upgrading to cPanel version 11.54.0.4 or later, which contains the necessary patches to sanitize user input properly. Organizations should also implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within their web applications to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual activity in administrative interfaces, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify potential injection points within web applications. The fix typically involves implementing proper HTML escaping or encoding of user-provided content before rendering it within the web interface, ensuring that any potentially malicious scripts are neutralized before execution.