CVE-2022-44877 in Panel 7
Summary
by MITRE • 01/06/2023
login/index.php in CWP (aka Control Web Panel or CentOS Web Panel) 7 before 0.9.8.1147 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary OS commands via shell metacharacters in the login parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-44877 represents a critical command injection flaw within the CentOS Web Panel (CWP) 7 software ecosystem. This issue resides in the login/index.php component of the control panel, which serves as the primary authentication interface for system administrators and users managing web hosting environments. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of the login parameter, creating an avenue for remote attackers to execute arbitrary operating system commands on the affected server. The flaw specifically manifests when shell metacharacters are passed through the login parameter, allowing malicious actors to bypass authentication mechanisms and gain unauthorized access to the underlying operating system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a command injection pattern that aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-88, where user-supplied input is directly incorporated into system commands without proper sanitization. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting malicious payloads containing shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks that get interpreted by the system shell. When the login parameter is processed through the vulnerable script, these metacharacters are executed as part of the command chain, enabling remote code execution with the privileges of the web server process. The vulnerability exists at the application layer and can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous in publicly accessible environments.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-44877 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with complete control over the compromised system. Successful exploitation allows threat actors to execute arbitrary commands, escalate privileges, install backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, and potentially use the compromised server as a launchpad for further attacks within the network infrastructure. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter), T1078.004 (Valid Accounts), and T1566.001 (Phishing), as it enables attackers to leverage compromised authentication mechanisms and execute malicious payloads. Organizations running CWP 7 versions prior to 0.9.8.1147 face significant risk of data breaches, service disruption, and potential lateral movement within their infrastructure, especially in hosting environments where multiple clients share the same server resources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-44877 primarily focus on immediate patching and implementation of defensive measures. The most effective solution involves upgrading to CWP version 0.9.8.1147 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization for the login parameter. Organizations should also implement network-level restrictions such as firewall rules to limit access to the CWP interface to trusted IP addresses only, while ensuring that the web server runs with minimal privileges. Input filtering mechanisms should be enhanced to sanitize all user-supplied data, particularly parameters that are directly incorporated into system commands. Additionally, monitoring and logging should be implemented to detect suspicious authentication attempts and command execution patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and the principle of least privilege in web application security, aligning with security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-53 and OWASP Top Ten 2021.