CVE-2002-1440 in GS-400
Summary
by MITRE
The Gateway GS-400 server has a default root password of "0001n" that can not be changed via the administrative interface, which can allow attackers to gain root privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-1440 represents a critical security flaw in the Gateway GS-400 server implementation that directly undermines system integrity and access control mechanisms. This issue stems from a hardcoded default credential configuration that persists across system deployments and fails to provide administrators with the ability to modify or reset these privileged access credentials through standard administrative interfaces. The vulnerability specifically affects the root user account which possesses the highest level of system privileges and can execute arbitrary commands with complete system control. The default password "0001n" represents a weak authentication mechanism that violates fundamental security principles of credential management and access control.
This security weakness constitutes a classic example of insecure default configurations and hardcoded credentials, which fall under the CWE-798 category of using hardcoded credentials in software systems. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple authentication bypass as it enables attackers to gain complete administrative control over the affected server without requiring any specialized tools or techniques beyond basic network reconnaissance. The inability to change the default password through the administrative interface indicates a fundamental flaw in the system's privilege management architecture, where administrative controls are insufficient to address critical security misconfigurations. This design flaw creates a persistent backdoor that remains active until the device is physically secured or replaced, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where such devices may be deployed without proper security hardening.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it allows attackers to establish persistent access to critical network infrastructure that could serve as a foothold for broader network infiltration. Attackers can leverage this privilege escalation opportunity to perform various malicious activities including data exfiltration, system modification, privilege escalation to other network components, and potential lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation and persistence domains, where attackers can use default credentials to establish a foothold and then maintain access to the compromised system. The ease of exploitation makes this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors who may use it as an initial access vector in larger attack campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security architecture improvements. The primary recommendation involves implementing proper credential management procedures that prevent the use of default passwords in production environments, which aligns with security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-128 and ISO 27001 standards. Organizations should ensure that all network devices receive proper security hardening before deployment, including immediate password changes and the implementation of strong authentication mechanisms. The administrative interface should be audited to ensure it provides adequate controls for credential management and that default configurations cannot be bypassed through simple authentication bypass techniques. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar hardcoded credential issues in other network infrastructure components, as this vulnerability pattern represents a common security oversight that affects numerous network devices and systems across various vendors and platforms.