CVE-2001-1430 in 3220-H DSL Router
Summary
by MITRE
Cayman 3220-H DSL Router 1.0 ship without a password set, which allows remote attackers to gain unauthorized access.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2024
The CVE-2001-1430 vulnerability affects the Cayman 3220-H DSL Router version 1.0, representing a critical security flaw in network infrastructure devices that was prevalent during the early 2000s era of internet connectivity. This vulnerability stems from the device's default configuration where no administrative password is set, creating an inherent security weakness that directly exposes the router to unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-798, which specifically addresses the use of hard-coded passwords or credentials, and represents a fundamental failure in secure device provisioning that was common among consumer-grade networking equipment of that time period.
The technical flaw manifests as a missing authentication mechanism at the administrative interface level, where the router's default configuration fails to establish any form of access control for its management functions. This absence of password protection means that any remote attacker who can reach the device's network interface can immediately gain full administrative privileges without requiring any authentication credentials. The vulnerability exists at the application layer of the network stack, specifically within the web-based management interface that typically runs on port 80 or 443, and operates under the principle that no authentication is required for administrative access. This flaw directly violates security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-44 and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and legitimate credentials for unauthorized access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it allows remote attackers to completely compromise the router's administrative functions and gain unrestricted access to the network infrastructure. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to modify router configurations, redirect traffic, install malicious firmware, or establish backdoors for persistent access. The compromise of such a device can lead to complete network infiltration, as the router serves as a gateway to the internal network, making it a prime target for lateral movement and advanced persistent threat campaigns. The vulnerability also enables attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks, DNS hijacking, and other network-level attacks that can compromise all devices connected to the network. This represents a critical failure in the principle of least privilege, where the default configuration provides maximum access without any authentication requirements, violating fundamental security concepts established in the ISO/IEC 27001 information security framework.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate administrative action to establish strong authentication mechanisms for the router's management interface. Organizations should implement mandatory password changes during initial device setup, enforce complex password policies, and disable default administrative accounts when possible. The recommended approach includes configuring strong passwords that meet complexity requirements, enabling encrypted management protocols such as HTTPS instead of HTTP, and restricting management access to specific IP addresses or ranges. Network segmentation should be implemented to isolate management interfaces from general network traffic, and regular security audits should be conducted to ensure that default configurations have not been reverted. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing network access control lists and firewall rules to limit access to the router's management ports, while also ensuring that the device firmware is updated to versions that properly enforce authentication requirements. This vulnerability highlights the importance of secure device provisioning and configuration management practices that are now standard requirements in modern cybersecurity frameworks and compliance standards.