CVE-2019-13360 in CentOS Web Panel
Summary
by MITRE • 01/25/2023
In CentOS-WebPanel.com (aka CWP) CentOS Web Panel 0.9.8.836, remote attackers can bypass authentication in the login process by leveraging knowledge of a valid username.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/31/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-13360 resides within the CentOS Web Panel (CWP) version 0.9.8.836, a widely used web hosting control panel for managing CentOS servers. This authentication bypass flaw represents a critical security weakness that undermines the fundamental security posture of systems relying on the platform. The vulnerability specifically affects the login mechanism where attackers can exploit a design flaw to circumvent the standard authentication process without requiring valid credentials for the target account.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper validation of authentication requests within the CWP login module. When a user attempts to log in, the system should validate both username and password credentials before granting access. However, the flaw allows attackers to determine if a username exists within the system through timing variations or response differences during the authentication attempt. This information disclosure enables attackers to enumerate valid user accounts and subsequently exploit the authentication bypass to gain unauthorized access to administrative functions.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations using CWP as their primary hosting management solution. Attackers can leverage this weakness to gain full administrative control over web hosting environments, potentially compromising multiple websites hosted on the same server. The vulnerability affects the principle of least privilege as it allows unauthorized access to sensitive administrative functions without proper credential validation. This type of authentication bypass directly violates security controls outlined in the CWE-287 category, which addresses authentication failures that can lead to unauthorized access to systems and data.
The exploitability of CVE-2019-13360 aligns with tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the credential access and privilege escalation domains. Attackers can use this vulnerability as an initial access vector to establish persistence within hosting environments, potentially leading to data breaches, service disruption, or further lateral movement within compromised networks. The vulnerability's impact is amplified in environments where multiple users share the same hosting infrastructure, as successful exploitation can affect numerous accounts and websites simultaneously.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches provided by CentOS-WebPanel.com, implementing additional authentication layers such as two-factor authentication, and monitoring for suspicious login attempts. Network-level controls including firewall rules and intrusion detection systems can help detect anomalous authentication patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and authentication flow design, aligning with security best practices from NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 standards that emphasize the need for robust authentication mechanisms and access control enforcement. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar authentication weaknesses in web applications and control panels.