CVE-2018-6362 in Easy Hosting Control Panel
Summary
by MITRE
Easy Hosting Control Panel (EHCP) v0.37.12.b has XSS via the domainop action parameter, as demonstrated by reading the PHPSESSID cookie.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/13/2023
The Easy Hosting Control Panel EHCP version 0.37.12.b contains a cross-site scripting vulnerability that allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a victim's browser. This vulnerability specifically affects the domainop action parameter within the application's web interface, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through web-based attacks. The flaw enables attackers to inject malicious code that executes when users interact with the affected application, potentially leading to session hijacking and unauthorized access to user accounts. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 which represents Cross-site Scripting flaws, representing one of the most common and dangerous web application security issues. This particular implementation of XSS occurs within the control panel's administrative interface where domain operations are managed, providing attackers with access to sensitive session information including the PHPSESSID cookie value.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing crafted script code within the domainop parameter and delivers it to a victim user who has administrative privileges within the EHCP system. When the victim clicks on the malicious link or visits a page containing the malicious script, the injected code executes in their browser context, allowing the attacker to read the PHPSESSID cookie value and potentially hijack the user's authenticated session. This type of attack follows the patterns documented in the ATT&CK framework under the T1531 technique for credential access through session hijacking. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core administrative functionality of the control panel, meaning that successful exploitation could provide attackers with full administrative privileges over the hosting environment. The attack vector is typically through web-based delivery methods such as phishing emails, malicious websites, or compromised web pages that contain the crafted malicious URLs.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple session theft, as it could enable attackers to perform unauthorized domain operations, modify hosting configurations, access sensitive user data, and potentially compromise the entire hosting infrastructure. Organizations using EHCP version 0.37.12.b face significant risk of unauthorized access to their hosting control panels, which could lead to data breaches, service disruption, and potential compromise of multiple user accounts. The vulnerability affects the authentication and session management mechanisms of the application, undermining the security posture of the entire hosting environment. This weakness represents a critical failure in input validation and output encoding practices, as the application does not properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into web responses. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability demonstrates poor web application security hygiene and highlights the importance of implementing proper input validation, output encoding, and secure session management practices. The risk is amplified because the vulnerability affects a control panel that typically contains sensitive administrative information and provides access to multiple hosting services, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking persistent access to hosting environments.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including updating to a patched version of EHCP, implementing proper input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied parameters, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious script injection attempts. The recommended solution involves applying the vendor-supplied security patches and implementing additional security controls such as Content Security Policy headers to prevent script execution in the browser context. System administrators should also conduct thorough security assessments of their EHCP installations to identify any other potential vulnerabilities and ensure that proper access controls are in place. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing comprehensive security testing procedures to identify and remediate web application vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors. Regular security monitoring and incident response procedures should be established to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts of this type of vulnerability.