CVE-2005-3253 in Wireless AP-6
Summary
by MITRE
Wireless Access Points (AP) for (1) Avaya AP-3 through AP-6 2.5 to 2.5.4, and AP-7/AP-8 2.5 and other versions before 3.1, and (2) Proxim AP-600 and AP-2000 before 2.5.5, and Proxim AP-700 and AP-4000 after 2.4.11 and before 3.1, use a static WEP key of "12345", which allows remote attackers to bypass authentication.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/04/2017
This vulnerability affects wireless access points from Avaya and Proxim vendors where a hardcoded static WEP key of "12345" is implemented in the device firmware. The flaw exists in specific firmware versions of Avaya AP-3 through AP-8 models and Proxim AP-600, AP-2000, AP-700, and AP-4000 devices. The use of a predictable static key represents a fundamental security failure in the wireless authentication mechanism, as it eliminates any meaningful cryptographic protection for wireless network access. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-798 category of using hardcoded credentials, which is a well-documented weakness in software security practices.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows remote attackers to bypass wireless network authentication by simply knowing the static WEP key "12345". Since WEP encryption is inherently weak and the key is hardcoded in the device firmware, any attacker who can discover or obtain this key gains immediate unauthorized access to the wireless network. The vulnerability exists across multiple device models and firmware versions, indicating a widespread issue within the vendor's product line. This type of flaw directly enables unauthorized network access and can lead to complete network compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with unrestricted access to wireless networks without requiring any sophisticated attack techniques or significant resources. Network administrators lose control over wireless access points, and the entire wireless infrastructure becomes vulnerable to unauthorized users. The static nature of the key means that once discovered, the vulnerability remains exploitable until the affected devices are physically secured or firmware is updated. This creates a persistent risk that can be exploited by anyone with basic knowledge of the affected device models and their known static keys.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including firmware updates from vendors when available, network segmentation to isolate affected wireless networks, and deployment of stronger authentication mechanisms such as WPA2 or WPA3 encryption. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of avoiding hardcoded credentials in network devices and highlights the need for proper security testing during the development lifecycle. This flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046 which involves discovering network services and T1071.004 which involves application layer protocol: dns, and represents a clear example of how weak authentication mechanisms can undermine entire network security postures. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unauthorized wireless access attempts, and all affected devices should be inventoried and secured through immediate firmware upgrades or device replacement.