CVE-2004-0391 in Hosting Solution Engine
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco Wireless LAN Solution Engine (WLSE) 2.0 through 2.5 and Hosting Solution Engine (HSE) 1.7 through 1.7.3 have a hardcoded username and password, which allows remote attackers to add new users, modify existing users, and change configuration.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/19/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-0391 affects Cisco Wireless LAN Solution Engine (WLSE) versions 2.0 through 2.5 and Hosting Solution Engine (HSE) versions 1.7 through 1.7.3, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity and confidentiality of wireless network management systems. This issue stems from the implementation of hardcoded credentials within the software architecture, creating a persistent backdoor that persists across system deployments and updates. The vulnerability falls under CWE-798, which specifically addresses the use of hard-coded credentials, a well-documented weakness that has been consistently flagged in security assessments and compliance frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the inclusion of static username and password combinations within the application source code or configuration files, making them accessible to anyone who can obtain the software or perform reverse engineering. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can remotely access the management interfaces of these wireless solutions and perform unauthorized administrative actions including user account manipulation and system configuration changes. This represents a severe privilege escalation opportunity that bypasses normal authentication mechanisms and authentication protocols that should normally protect such critical system components. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that these solutions are designed to manage wireless network infrastructure, making them attractive targets for adversaries seeking to compromise entire wireless networks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables attackers to establish persistent presence within wireless network environments and potentially escalate their privileges to gain complete control over the managed wireless infrastructure. This capability allows adversaries to modify network policies, create unauthorized user accounts, and alter security configurations that could facilitate further attacks or data exfiltration. The vulnerability's persistence across versions indicates a systemic design flaw that was not properly addressed through security reviews or code audits, suggesting inadequate security testing during the development lifecycle. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1566 (Phishing for Information) as attackers can leverage these hardcoded credentials to establish legitimate-looking administrative access, and T1003 (OS Credential Dumping) as the credentials are embedded within the system rather than dynamically generated.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate remediation through software updates from Cisco, as the vendor would have released patches addressing the hardcoded credential issue. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate these management systems from critical network segments and deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for unauthorized access attempts. The implementation of principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to these management interfaces, while regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar hardcoded credentials in other systems. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing multi-factor authentication mechanisms for administrative access, although this may require system upgrades since the affected versions are legacy products. Security monitoring should include regular checks for unauthorized user account modifications and configuration changes that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a prime example of why security by design principles must be rigorously applied throughout the software development lifecycle, including the implementation of proper credential management and the elimination of hard-coded authentication information in production systems.