CVE-2006-3287 in Wireless Control System
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco Wireless Control System (WCS) for Linux and Windows 4.0(1) and earlier uses a default administrator username "root" and password "public," which allows remote attackers to gain access (aka bug CSCse21391).
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-3287 represents a critical security flaw in Cisco Wireless Control System versions 4.0(1) and earlier across both Linux and Windows platforms. This issue stems from the implementation of default credentials that persist throughout the system's deployment lifecycle without proper modification by administrators. The specific default authentication combination consists of the username "root" and password "public," which are widely known and easily accessible to any potential attacker with network access to the system.
This vulnerability falls under the category of weak authentication mechanisms and directly relates to CWE-798, which addresses the use of hard-coded credentials in software. The flaw creates an immediate and severe security risk as it allows unauthorized remote access to the system without requiring any specialized tools or techniques beyond basic network connectivity. Attackers can leverage this default credential combination to establish administrative control over the wireless network management system, potentially gaining access to sensitive network configuration data, user information, and control over wireless access points within the managed network infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with administrative privileges that enable them to modify network configurations, disable security features, monitor wireless traffic, and potentially create backdoor access points. This level of access can compromise the entire wireless network infrastructure and facilitate further lateral movement within the organization's network. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor security hygiene practices in software development, where default credentials are not properly secured or changed during installation processes, creating a persistent risk for all systems deployed with these default settings.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and credential access, and T1566 which covers credential access through social engineering or default credentials. The exploitability of this vulnerability is extremely high given that it requires no specialized knowledge or advanced techniques beyond basic network reconnaissance. Organizations deploying Cisco WCS systems without addressing this default credential issue face significant risk of compromise, particularly in environments where wireless networks are critical to business operations. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper security configuration management and the necessity of changing default credentials immediately upon system deployment, as recommended in various security frameworks including NIST SP 800-123 and ISO/IEC 27001.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action including the implementation of proper credential management protocols, regular security audits of deployed systems, and enforcement of security policies that mandate credential changes during initial setup. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to wireless management systems, deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for unauthorized access attempts, and establish procedures for regular security assessments of network infrastructure components. The remediation process involves changing the default administrative credentials to strong, unique passwords and ensuring that these changes are properly documented and maintained throughout the system's operational lifecycle.