CVE-2022-44877: CWP Control Web Panel OS Command Injection Vulnerability
CWP · Control Web Panel · NVD published 2023-01-06 · posted 2026-10-21 · last modified 2026-06-17
What it is
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.
| Weakness | CWE-78 |
|---|---|
| CVSS vector | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H (source: [email protected]) |
| CISA due date | 2023-02-07 (for US federal agencies under BOD; a good deadline for everyone) |
| ATT&CK tactics | Initial Access → Execution |
Exploitation evidence
First exploit evidence seen: 2023-01-05 (earliest date across the sources below).
Exploited in the wild
- CISA KEV: listed since 2023-01-17. Source
Public exploit code
Metasploit
exploit/linux/http/control_web_panel_login_cmd_exec: CWP login.php Unauthenticated RCE (disclosure 2023-01-05)
Exploit-DB
- EDB-51194: Centos Web Panel 7 v0.9.8.1147 - Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution (RCE) (2023-04-01)
- EDB-51250: Control Web Panel 7 (CWP7) v0.9.8.1147 - Remote Code Execution (RCE) (2023-04-05)
GitHub proof-of-concept repositories
8 public repositories from 8 accounts, first seen 2023-01-05. Most starred: numanturle/CVE-2022-44877 (103 stars), view repository.
Verify before running: public PoCs can be malicious. Read the code and only run it in an isolated lab. A PoC means exploit code is public, not that this CVE is exploited in the wild.
Sources: CISA KEV · Rapid7 Metasploit Framework module metadata · Exploit-DB (OffSec) · nomi-sec/PoC-in-GitHub.
Defend the Chain
The attack chain for CVE-2022-44877 laid across the MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise tactics. Solid cards come from the MITRE CTID KEV mappings; dashed cards are inferred by CVERadar from the CWE or description. Correct defences are real ATT&CK mitigations for that technique.
Pick a red technique card on the board, then choose the defence that stops it.
Defend against T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Inferred
Inferred from CWE CWE-78
How to fix it
CISA required action
Apply updates per vendor instructions. (source: CISA KEV)
Fixed versions
- control-webpanel webpanel: upgrade to 0.9.8.1147 or later
Derived from the NVD CPE configuration (versionEndExcluding / versionEndIncluding). Always confirm with the vendor advisory.
Vendor advisories and patches
- https://control-webpanel.com/changelog#1669855527714-450fb335-6194 (CISA KEV notes)
MITRE ATT&CK mitigations for this chain
- M1048 Application Isolation and Sandboxing (for T1190) : Application isolation will limit what other processes and system features the exploited target can access.
- M1037 Filter Network Traffic (for T1190) : Restrict outbound network traffic from public-facing servers to prevent unauthorized connections from initiating communications with attacker-controlled infrastructure. While this may not prevent the initial exploitation, it limits the attacker's ability to verify and control the compromised server post-exploit, reduci
- M1030 Network Segmentation (for T1190) : Segment externally facing servers and services from the rest of the network with a DMZ or on separate hosting infrastructure.
- M1016 Vulnerability Scanning (for T1190) : Regularly scan externally facing systems for vulnerabilities and establish procedures to rapidly patch systems when critical vulnerabilities are discovered through scanning and through public disclosure.
- M1026 Privileged Account Management (for T1190, T1059) : Use least privilege for service accounts will limit what permissions the exploited process gets on the rest of the system.
- M1050 Exploit Protection (for T1190) : Web Application Firewalls may be used to limit exposure of applications to prevent exploit traffic from reaching the application.
- M1035 Limit Access to Resource Over Network (for T1190) : Ensure that all publicly exposed services are actually intended to be so, and restrict access to any that should only be available internally.
- M1051 Update Software (for T1190) : Update software regularly by employing patch management for externally exposed applications.
- M1033 Limit Software Installation (for T1059) : Prevent user installation of unrequired command and scripting interpreters.
- M1045 Code Signing (for T1059) : Where possible, only permit execution of signed scripts.
Detection Generic guidance
- Initial Access: Alert on unusual requests to the affected service (odd paths, oversized payloads, exploit strings) in WAF, reverse-proxy and application logs.
- Execution: Watch for the service process spawning shells or script interpreters (cmd.exe, powershell, sh, bash, python) via EDR process-tree rules.
Response checklist Generic guidance
- Inventory: find every instance of the affected product and version (include internet-facing and forgotten ones).
- Patch or mitigate per the vendor advisory; if you cannot patch, remove internet exposure or apply the vendor workaround.
- Assume compromise if the system was exposed before patching: hunt for the indicators in the advisory and review logs back to the disclosure date.
- Rotate credentials and secrets stored on or used by the affected system if compromise cannot be ruled out.
Sources
- NVD: CVE-2022-44877
- CVE.org record
- CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
- FIRST EPSS (2026-10-24)
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/170388/Control-Web-Panel-7-Remote-Code-Execution.html (Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/170820/Control-Web-Panel-Unauthenticated-Remote-Command-Execution.html (Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/171725/Control-Web-Panel-7-CWP7-0.9.8.1147-Remote-Code-Execution.html (Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2023/Jan/1 (Exploit, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory)
- https://gist.github.com/numanturle/c1e82c47f4cba24cff214e904c227386 (Exploit, Third Party Advisory)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiLfSvc1SYY (Exploit, Third Party Advisory)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2022-44877 (US Government Resource)