CVE-2026-65916 in cyberpanel
Summary
by MITRE • 07/23/2026
CyberPanel through 1.9.1, fixed in commit b198460, contains a missing authorization vulnerability in the cancelBackupCreation handler that allows authenticated users to kill, delete, and corrupt other tenants' backups. Attackers can send crafted POST requests with arbitrary backupCancellationDomain and fileName parameters to terminate backup processes, delete backup archives, corrupt backup status files, and remove database records belonging to other tenants.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/25/2026
The CyberPanel vulnerability represents a critical authorization flaw that undermines the integrity of multi-tenant backup operations within the web hosting control panel environment. This issue affects versions through 1.9.1 and was subsequently addressed in commit b198460, highlighting the importance of proper access controls in shared hosting infrastructure where multiple customers operate under a single management interface.
The technical flaw manifests in the cancelBackupCreation handler which fails to implement adequate authorization checks before processing backup cancellation requests. This missing validation allows authenticated users to manipulate backup operations targeting resources belonging to different tenants through carefully crafted POST requests containing arbitrary backupCancellationDomain and fileName parameters. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization and access control enforcement mechanisms that should have prevented cross-tenant resource manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data loss scenarios to encompass complete backup corruption and system integrity compromise. Attackers can terminate legitimate backup processes, delete backup archives containing critical customer data, corrupt backup status files that track backup operations, and remove database records associated with other tenants' backup configurations. This creates a cascading effect where legitimate backup operations are disrupted while potentially exposing sensitive customer information through the deletion of backup metadata.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-862 which addresses insufficient authorization flaws in software systems. The attack vector leverages the principle of least privilege violation by allowing authenticated users to perform actions beyond their intended scope of access. This represents a classic case where proper separation of duties has been compromised within the backup management subsystem, enabling privilege escalation through carefully crafted API interactions.
The threat landscape for such vulnerabilities is particularly concerning given that backup systems often contain sensitive customer data including database credentials, application configurations, and personal information that may be critical for business continuity and regulatory compliance. The ability to corrupt or delete backups belonging to other tenants creates significant operational risks including potential data recovery failures and service disruption for multiple customers simultaneously.
Security mitigations should focus on implementing robust authorization checks within the backup management subsystem, ensuring that all backup cancellation operations validate tenant ownership before processing requests. Input validation mechanisms must be strengthened to prevent parameter manipulation attacks, while access control lists should enforce strict separation between tenant resources. Additionally, logging and monitoring capabilities should be enhanced to detect unauthorized backup manipulation attempts, providing forensic evidence for incident response activities.
The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following security best practices outlined in frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO/IEC 27001 which emphasize proper access control implementation and regular security testing of critical system components. Organizations using CyberPanel should conduct immediate vulnerability assessments to identify similar authorization flaws in other subsystems, while implementing network segmentation and additional monitoring controls to detect anomalous backup manipulation activities.
This issue demonstrates the critical need for comprehensive security testing of multi-tenant applications, particularly those handling sensitive customer data through backup and restore operations. The vulnerability serves as a reminder that even authenticated access does not automatically grant authorization to manipulate resources belonging to other users, requiring explicit validation mechanisms to maintain system integrity across shared environments.