CVE-2018-20907 in cPanel
Summary
by MITRE
cPanel before 71.9980.37 does not enforce the Mime::list_hotlinks API feature restriction (SEC-432).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/18/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-20907 affects cPanel versions prior to 71.9980.37 and relates to a critical security flaw in the Mime::list_hotlinks API feature. This issue represents a failure in access control enforcement where the application does not properly validate or restrict API functionality that should be limited to authorized users only. The vulnerability specifically impacts the security controls governing how hotlinking operations are handled within the cPanel environment, creating a potential pathway for unauthorized access to sensitive system resources and functionality.
The technical flaw manifests as a missing authorization check within the Mime::list_hotlinks API endpoint, which allows attackers to bypass intended restrictions and potentially access or manipulate hotlink configurations without proper authentication. This represents a classic case of insufficient access control enforcement that aligns with CWE-285, which addresses issues where applications fail to properly enforce authorization checks. The vulnerability exists in the application layer where API endpoints should validate user credentials and permissions before executing sensitive operations, but instead permits unrestricted access to the hotlink listing functionality.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability could enable attackers to enumerate and potentially manipulate hotlink configurations within the cPanel environment, which may lead to broader system compromise. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as it could allow for privilege escalation or further exploitation of the system. Attackers could leverage this weakness to gain insights into system configuration, potentially identifying other vulnerable components or services that might be accessible through similar unauthorized API access patterns. The vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege, where users should only have access to resources necessary for their specific functions.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and T1566 which addresses credential harvesting. Organizations utilizing cPanel versions prior to the patched release face significant risk of unauthorized system access and potential data exposure. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation and access control implementation that could be exploited in combination with other vulnerabilities to achieve more substantial compromise. Remediation requires immediate deployment of cPanel version 71.9980.37 or later, which includes proper authorization enforcement for the Mime::list_hotlinks API feature. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security audits of their cPanel configurations to ensure no other API endpoints suffer from similar access control failures. Network segmentation and monitoring of API access patterns should be implemented to detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts, while regular security updates and patch management procedures should be enforced to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in the future.