CVE-2018-20942 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

An issue in cPanel versions prior to 68.0.27 allows attackers to briefly access the crontab file of the root user when configuring crontab (SEC-351).

Understanding CVE-2018-20942

This CVE entry describes a vulnerability in cPanel that could potentially lead to unauthorized access to sensitive system files.

What is CVE-2018-20942?

cPanel versions before 68.0.27 are susceptible to a security issue that enables attackers to read the crontab file of the root user during a short time interval when configuring crontab (SEC-351).

The Impact of CVE-2018-20942

The vulnerability could allow malicious actors to view and potentially exploit the root user's crontab file, leading to unauthorized actions on the system.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-20942

This section provides more in-depth technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in cPanel versions prior to 68.0.27 allows attackers to access the crontab file of the root user during the configuration of crontab (SEC-351).

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: cPanel
Vulnerable Versions: Versions before 68.0.27

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by manipulating the crontab configuration process to gain unauthorized access to the root user's crontab file.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-20942 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update cPanel to version 68.0.27 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor crontab activities for any unauthorized changes.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and apply security patches promptly.
Implement strong access controls and permissions to restrict unauthorized access to critical system files.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that cPanel is regularly updated to the latest version to address known security vulnerabilities.