CVE-2022-44877
About
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.
Rainforest analyst review
The login page of Control Web Panel (formerly CentOS Web Panel) passes the login parameter straight into a shell without stripping metacharacters. An unauthenticated attacker simply appends their own command — wrapped in backticks or shell separators — to a request against login/index.php, and the server runs it. Because the panel process typically runs with high privilege, that means arbitrary OS command execution as root before anyone has logged in.
CWP is a hosting control panel installed on large numbers of low-cost and shared-hosting servers, all of them internet-facing by design, which makes for a broad, easily fingerprinted attack surface. A working proof of concept appeared quickly and mass scanning and exploitation followed within days, with the flaw folded into commodity botnet and cryptomining operations. Upgrade to 0.9.8.1147 or later without delay, and because exploitation is trivial and predates most patching, inspect exposed servers for web shells, rogue cron jobs, and new accounts rather than assuming a clean patch closes the story.
References
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/170388/Control-Web-Panel-7-Remote-Code-Execution.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/170820/Control-Web-Panel-Unauthenticated-Remote-Command-Execution.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/171725/Control-Web-Panel-7-CWP7-0.9.8.1147-Remote-Code-Execution.html
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2023/Jan/1
- https://gist.github.com/numanturle/c1e82c47f4cba24cff214e904c227386
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiLfSvc1SYY
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2022-44877
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Frequently asked questions
What is CVE-2022-44877?
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.
How severe is CVE-2022-44877?
CVE-2022-44877 carries a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8, rated critical. On the Rainforest Risk Index — which weighs the severity alongside how easy the flaw is to reach and how broad its impact is — it scores 99 out of 100, in the critical band.
How is CVE-2022-44877 exploited?
According to the CVSS vector (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H): attack vector Network, attack complexity Low, privileges required None, user interaction None. Impact on confidentiality High, integrity High and availability High.
Which products are affected by CVE-2022-44877?
Public advisories list the following as affected: webpanel. Check the references on this page for the exact versions each vendor confirms.
How do I fix CVE-2022-44877?
Apply the fix the vendor published — the references on this page link to the primary advisories and patches. When patching can't happen right away, reduce the exposure of the affected component and watch it for exploitation attempts. Rainforest customers see this vulnerability correlated to their own assets and prioritized by real exposure, not by score alone.
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