CVE-2018-5962 in CentOS Web Panel
Summary
by MITRE • 01/25/2023
index.php in CentOS-WebPanel.com (aka CWP) CentOS Web Panel through v0.9.8.12 has XSS via the id parameter to the phpini_editor module or the email_address parameter to the mail_add-new module.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/25/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2018-5962 affects CentOS Web Panel version 0.9.8.12 and earlier, representing a cross-site scripting flaw in the web-based administrative interface. This issue manifests in two distinct attack vectors within the panel's modular architecture, specifically targeting the phpini_editor module and the mail_add-new module. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within these components, allowing malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into the application's response. The affected parameters include the id parameter in the phpini_editor module and the email_address parameter in the mail_add-new module, both of which fail to properly escape or validate user-supplied data before rendering it in the web interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows the CWE-79 pattern of cross-site scripting, where untrusted data flows from the web application's input handling into the output generation without proper sanitization. In the context of CentOS Web Panel, this represents a critical security weakness that undermines the integrity of the administrative interface. When a user accesses the vulnerable modules with maliciously crafted parameters, the injected scripts execute within the context of other users' browsers who visit the affected pages. This creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious sites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it fundamentally compromises the security posture of systems managed through CentOS Web Panel. Attackers can leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to sensitive administrative functions, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects both the phpini_editor functionality, which allows modification of php configuration files, and the mail_add-new module that handles email account creation. These modules are core components of the web panel's administrative capabilities, making the attack surface particularly significant. The attack vector requires minimal privileges since it targets the web interface rather than requiring system-level access, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to establish persistent access to server environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The recommended approach includes enforcing strict parameter validation for all user-supplied inputs, particularly in the affected modules, and implementing proper HTML entity encoding for all dynamic content rendered in the web interface. Security patches should address the root cause by ensuring that the id parameter in phpini_editor and the email_address parameter in mail_add-new modules properly sanitize all input before processing. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to provide additional protection against script execution, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other modules. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a web application vulnerability exploitation technique, specifically targeting the application layer where user inputs are processed and rendered. Given the widespread use of CentOS Web Panel in hosting environments, this vulnerability represents a significant risk to organizations that rely on the platform for managing their web server configurations and email services.