CVE-2017-18385 in cPanel
Summary
by MITRE
cPanel before 68.0.15 allows unprivileged users to access restricted directories during account restores (SEC-311).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/18/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-18385 affects cPanel versions prior to 68.0.15 and represents a critical access control flaw that undermines the security boundaries between user accounts. This issue specifically impacts the account restore functionality where unprivileged users can potentially access restricted directories that should be protected from unauthorized access. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms during the restore process, allowing malicious actors with limited account privileges to bypass normal directory access controls and gain visibility into sensitive areas of the file system.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs within the account restoration module of cPanel's administrative interface. When users attempt to restore account data, the system fails to properly validate whether the requesting user has appropriate permissions to access all directories referenced during the restore operation. This weakness creates a path where an unprivileged user can manipulate the restore process to traverse into restricted directories that typically contain sensitive configuration files, backup data, or system resources that should remain isolated from standard user accounts. The flaw operates at the privilege escalation level, allowing users to access resources beyond their normal account boundaries without proper authentication or authorization checks.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to system integrity and data confidentiality. Attackers could exploit this weakness to access sensitive information such as database credentials, configuration files containing API keys, backup archives, or other restricted resources that might contain proprietary data or system secrets. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as it enables potential further exploitation avenues, including the possibility of executing malicious code or manipulating system configurations. This vulnerability particularly affects shared hosting environments where multiple users operate under a single cPanel instance, creating a potential attack vector that could compromise entire hosting environments.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control issues, specifically focusing on insufficient privileges during file system operations. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this weakness maps to privilege escalation techniques and credential access phases, as it allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to restricted resources without proper authentication. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to cPanel version 68.0.15 or later, which includes proper access control validation during restore operations. Additional protective measures include implementing strict file system permissions, monitoring restore operations for unusual access patterns, and conducting regular security audits of account restoration processes. The fix addresses the core issue by introducing proper validation checks that ensure users can only access directories and files within their own account boundaries during restore operations, thereby maintaining the principle of least privilege and preventing unauthorized directory traversal.