CVE-2017-18461 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

The version of cPanel prior to 62.0.17 has a security issue related to retaining security policy questions during an account rename.

Understanding CVE-2017-18461

This CVE identifier is associated with a vulnerability in cPanel versions before 62.0.17 that affects the retention of security policy questions when an account is renamed.

What is CVE-2017-18461?

cPanel versions prior to 62.0.17 fail to preserve security policy questions during an account rename process, identified as SEC-223.

The Impact of CVE-2017-18461

The vulnerability could lead to a lapse in security measures as security policy questions are not retained during account renaming, potentially exposing sensitive information.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-18461

The technical aspects of the vulnerability are as follows:

Vulnerability Description

The version of cPanel before 62.0.17 does not retain security policy questions when an account is renamed (SEC-223).

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: cPanel
Vendor: Not applicable
Versions affected: All versions before 62.0.17

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by renaming an account in cPanel, triggering the failure to retain security policy questions.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2017-18461, consider the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade cPanel to version 62.0.17 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Encourage users to reset security policy questions after the update.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update cPanel to the latest versions to ensure security patches are applied.
Educate users on the importance of maintaining strong security practices.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by cPanel to address security vulnerabilities promptly.