CVE-2006-5382 in SuperStack 3 Switch 4400
Summary
by MITRE
3Com Switch SS3 4400 switches, firmware 5.11, 6.00 and 6.10 and earlier, allow remote attackers to read the SNMP Read-Write Community string and conduct unauthorized actions via unspecified "normally restricted management packets on the device" that cause the community string to be returned.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/25/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-5382 affects 3Com Switch SS3 4400 series network switches operating with firmware versions 5.11, 6.00, and 6.10 or earlier. This security flaw represents a critical access control weakness that allows remote attackers to bypass normal authentication mechanisms and obtain sensitive management information. The vulnerability specifically targets the Simple Network Management Protocol implementation within these network devices, creating an avenue for unauthorized access to privileged management functions.
The technical flaw manifests through improperly restricted management packets that are typically protected from external access. When attackers send specific management requests to the affected switches, the system inadvertently returns the SNMP Read-Write Community string in cleartext format. This exposure occurs because the device fails to properly validate incoming management packets or enforce appropriate access controls for these privileged operations. The vulnerability falls under CWE-284 which addresses improper access control, specifically concerning insufficient access control mechanisms for management interfaces.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security risks for network infrastructure. Once an attacker obtains the SNMP community string, they can perform unauthorized actions including but not limited to configuration changes, monitoring network traffic, accessing device logs, and potentially escalating privileges to gain full administrative control over the affected switches. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this weakness from anywhere on the network without requiring physical access or local credentials. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1046 for network service scanning and T1078 for valid accounts, as attackers can leverage the exposed community string to establish unauthorized network management sessions.
The security implications extend beyond immediate unauthorized access to encompass potential network compromise and data exfiltration. Network switches serve as critical infrastructure components that control network traffic flow and access policies, making their compromise particularly dangerous. Attackers can use the obtained community string to monitor network communications, identify connected devices, and potentially pivot to other network segments. The exposure of the SNMP community string also violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and defense in depth, as it provides a backdoor access method that bypasses normal authentication procedures and network segmentation controls.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate firmware updates to versions that address this vulnerability, as 3Com has likely released patches for affected devices. Network administrators should also implement additional security controls such as restricting SNMP access to trusted management stations only, using SNMPv3 with strong authentication and encryption instead of SNMPv1 or v2c, and implementing network segmentation to limit access to management interfaces. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that only necessary personnel have access to management functions and that community strings are properly secured and regularly rotated. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual management packet activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any other devices running affected firmware versions and ensure that all network infrastructure components are properly maintained and updated according to security best practices.