CVE-2018-20906 in cPanel
Summary
by MITRE
cPanel before 71.9980.37 allows attackers to make API calls that bypass the images feature restriction (SEC-430).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/18/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-20906 affects cPanel versions prior to 71.9980.37 and represents a significant security flaw in the web hosting control panel's access control mechanisms. This issue specifically targets the images feature restriction functionality that is designed to prevent unauthorized users from accessing or manipulating image-related operations within the cPanel interface. The vulnerability enables attackers to circumvent intended security controls, potentially allowing them to perform actions that should be restricted to authorized users only.
The technical flaw manifests through a bypass mechanism that allows unauthorized API calls to be executed against the images feature functionality. This occurs due to inadequate input validation and access control checks within the cPanel API implementation. Attackers can exploit this weakness to make API calls that would normally be restricted, effectively gaining elevated privileges or access to functionality that should remain protected. The vulnerability stems from improper authorization validation during API request processing, where the system fails to properly verify user permissions before executing image-related operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it compromises the integrity of cPanel's access control system. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially manipulate image files stored on the server, access restricted image repositories, or perform administrative actions related to image management. This could lead to data exposure, unauthorized modifications to website content, or serve as a foothold for further attacks within the hosting environment. The bypass affects the core security model of cPanel's image handling capabilities, undermining the trust model that users expect from the control panel.
Organizations using cPanel versions prior to 71.9980.37 should implement immediate remediation measures to address this vulnerability. The primary solution involves upgrading to cPanel version 71.9980.37 or later, which contains the necessary patches to fix the authorization bypass issue. Additionally, system administrators should review and audit existing access controls to ensure that no unauthorized modifications have occurred. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious API activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems, and could be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting, as unauthorized access to restricted functionality often precedes broader compromise attempts.