CVE-2017-18412 in cPanel
Summary
by MITRE
cPanel before 67.9999.103 allows Apache HTTP Server log files to become world-readable because of mishandling on an account rename (SEC-296).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/18/2020
This vulnerability affects cPanel versions prior to 67.9999.103 and represents a critical privilege escalation issue stemming from improper file permission handling during account renaming operations. The flaw occurs when a cPanel account is renamed, causing Apache HTTP Server log files to be inadvertently made world-readable, which violates fundamental security principles of file access control and information disclosure. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-732 as improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, and it aligns with ATT&CK technique T1087.001 for account discovery and T1566.001 for credential access through file system manipulation. The root cause lies in the cPanel software's failure to properly reset file permissions after account renaming, creating a persistent security weakness that can be exploited by unauthorized users to gain access to sensitive log data containing potentially valuable information such as user credentials, session identifiers, and system access patterns.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as Apache log files often contain sensitive data that can be leveraged for further attacks within the compromised environment. When log files become world-readable, attackers can extract session tokens, authentication credentials, and system access patterns that may reveal network topology, user behavior, and potential security gaps within the cPanel environment. This vulnerability particularly affects shared hosting environments where multiple accounts reside on the same server, as the compromised permissions can potentially expose log data from neighboring accounts. The issue demonstrates poor security by design principles, as the system fails to maintain proper access controls during dynamic account management operations, creating a persistent backdoor for unauthorized access to sensitive system information.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected cPanel installations to version 67.9999.103 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for proper permission handling during account renaming. System administrators should also implement regular permission audits to identify and correct any lingering world-readable log files that may have resulted from the vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing automated monitoring solutions that can detect unauthorized changes to file permissions and log file access patterns, as outlined in NIST SP 800-53 control CM-7 for configuration management and SI-7 for incident response. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining proper file system access controls during system operations and demonstrates the critical need for security testing of administrative functions that modify system state, particularly those involving user account management and permission handling as specified in OWASP Top 10 2021 category A05: Security Misconfiguration.