CVE-2017-6513 in Virtualizor
Summary
by MITRE
The WHMCS Reseller Module V2 2.0.2 in Softaculous Virtualizor before 2.9.1.0 does not verify the user correctly, which allows remote authenticated users to control other virtual machines managed by Virtualizor by accessing a modified URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6513 affects the WHMCS Reseller Module V2 2.0.2 within Softaculous Virtualizor software versions prior to 2.9.1.0. This represents a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security model of virtual machine management systems. The issue stems from insufficient user verification mechanisms that fail to properly validate administrative privileges during virtual machine operations. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can manipulate URL parameters to gain unauthorized access to virtual machines they should not control, effectively bypassing the intended access controls that separate user permissions in multi-tenant hosting environments.
The technical flaw manifests through improper input validation and session management within the Virtualizor module interface. When authenticated users interact with virtual machine management functions, the system fails to perform adequate checks to ensure that the requesting user possesses legitimate authorization to perform actions on specific virtual machines. This weakness creates a path for privilege escalation through URL manipulation, where attackers can modify parameters in the URL to target virtual machines belonging to other users or administrators. The vulnerability specifically impacts the authorization flow during virtual machine operations, allowing unauthorized access to resources that should be restricted to legitimate owners or administrators.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, creating potential for significant damage within hosting environments. Remote authenticated attackers can exploit this flaw to perform actions such as starting, stopping, or modifying virtual machines belonging to other users, potentially leading to service disruption, data compromise, or unauthorized resource consumption. In multi-tenant hosting scenarios, this vulnerability could enable attackers to gain control over customer virtual machines, potentially resulting in data breaches, service availability issues, and violations of hosting provider agreements. The vulnerability also undermines the trust model that hosting providers rely upon to maintain secure isolation between customer environments.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to Virtualizor version 2.9.1.0 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the authorization verification flaw. Network segmentation and monitoring of URL access patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts, while implementing proper input validation and session management controls should be prioritized. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in software systems, and corresponds to techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation and lateral movement tactics. Security teams should also consider implementing additional controls such as role-based access controls, regular security audits of administrative interfaces, and monitoring for unusual virtual machine management activities that could indicate exploitation attempts.