CVE-2022-45130 in Obsidian
Summary
by MITRE • 11/10/2022
Plesk Obsidian allows a CSRF attack, e.g., via the /api/v2/cli/commands REST API to change an Admin password. NOTE: Obsidian is a specific version of the Plesk product: version numbers were used through version 12, and then the convention was changed so that versions are identified by names ("Obsidian"), not numbers.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/11/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-45130 represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within Plesk Obsidian, a web-based hosting control panel that has transitioned from numeric versioning to named releases. This vulnerability specifically affects the /api/v2/cli/commands REST API endpoint, which is designed to execute command-line operations within the Plesk environment. The flaw enables malicious actors to manipulate administrative functions without proper authorization, particularly targeting password modification capabilities that could lead to complete system compromise. The transition from numeric versioning to named versions in Plesk Obsidian reflects a strategic shift in product lifecycle management that does not mitigate the underlying security weaknesses present in this particular release.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of request origins and lack of proper anti-CSRF token mechanisms within the API endpoint. When administrators interact with the Plesk interface, legitimate requests are processed through the REST API, but the absence of robust origin verification and token-based authentication allows attackers to craft malicious requests that appear to originate from authenticated sessions. This flaw specifically impacts the administrative password change functionality, which when exploited could provide unauthorized access to critical system controls and user data management capabilities. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through various attack vectors including social engineering, compromised user sessions, or by leveraging existing access to the system to execute malicious payloads.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it enables attackers to assume administrative privileges within the Plesk environment. Once an attacker successfully exploits this CSRF flaw, they can modify administrative passwords, potentially gaining persistent access to the control panel and all associated hosting services. This compromise affects not only the primary administrative account but also any user accounts managed through the Plesk interface, potentially exposing thousands of websites and email accounts under the control of the compromised system. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates silently without requiring additional authentication factors, making detection difficult and allowing attackers to maintain long-term access to the compromised environment.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including the deployment of web application firewalls that can detect and block CSRF attempts, enforcement of strict origin validation rules for API endpoints, and mandatory implementation of anti-CSRF tokens for all administrative functions. The mitigation strategy should also include immediate patching of the Plesk Obsidian software to the latest available version that addresses this specific vulnerability. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of all API endpoints to identify similar CSRF weaknesses and implement proper session management controls. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be reviewed to limit the potential blast radius of such attacks, while user education programs should emphasize the importance of recognizing and reporting suspicious activities that might indicate CSRF attack attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers valid accounts used for persistence, as unauthorized access to administrative accounts represents a critical compromise of system integrity.
The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining robust security controls even in well-established control panel environments, where the assumption of security through complexity can lead to dangerous oversights. Organizations should treat this vulnerability as a critical security incident requiring immediate attention and implement comprehensive monitoring to detect any unauthorized administrative activities. The combination of the CSRF flaw with the administrative password modification capability creates a particularly dangerous attack vector that can lead to complete system compromise without requiring advanced exploitation techniques. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other API endpoints, ensuring that the security posture of the control panel environment remains strong against evolving threats.