How severe is CVE-2018-20888?

CVE-2018-20888 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity high, and availability none.

Is CVE-2018-20888 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (28th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2018-20888?

CVE-2018-20888 affects Cpanel. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2018-20888?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2018-20888 published?

CVE-2018-20888 was published on 2019-08-01 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2018-20888

CVE-2018-20888 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Cpanel with a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-287.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 5.5)
CVSS v2: 4.9
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (28th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-287
Affected product: Cpanel
Published: 2019-08-01
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

cPanel before 74.0.0 allows file modification in the context of the root account because of incorrect HTTP authentication (SEC-424).

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2018-20888?: cPanel before 74.0.0 allows file modification in the context of the root account because of incorrect HTTP authentication (SEC-424).
How severe is CVE-2018-20888?: CVE-2018-20888 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity high, and availability none.
Is CVE-2018-20888 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (28th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2018-20888?: CVE-2018-20888 affects Cpanel. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2018-20888?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2018-20888 published?: CVE-2018-20888 was published on 2019-08-01 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (1)

cpe:2.3:a:cpanel:cpanel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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Other CWE-287 (Improper Authentication) vulnerabilities

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