CVE-2007-4388 in 1701hg Router
Summary
by MITRE
2wire 1701HG and 2071 Gateway routers, with 5.29.51 and possibly 3.17.5 software, have a blank password by default.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/01/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-4388 affects 2wire gateway routers including the 1701HG and 2071 models running specific firmware versions. This represents a critical default configuration flaw that fundamentally compromises the security posture of these network devices. The issue stems from the manufacturer's failure to implement proper authentication mechanisms during the initial setup process, leaving the device accessible without any credential requirements. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability directly violates fundamental security principles of authentication and access control, creating an immediate and severe risk for network defenders.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves a default configuration where the administrative interface accepts connections without requiring any password authentication. This blank password configuration creates an unauthenticated access point that allows any remote attacker to gain full administrative control over the router. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the core management interface of the device, providing attackers with complete control over network configuration, firewall settings, DNS resolution, and potentially access to connected devices. This type of flaw falls under CWE-255 - Credentials Management, specifically addressing the improper handling of authentication credentials where no credentials are required for administrative access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond the immediate device compromise. Once an attacker gains administrative access, they can modify network settings to redirect traffic through malicious servers, disable security features, or establish persistent backdoors. This vulnerability enables a wide range of malicious activities including man-in-the-middle attacks, DNS hijacking, and network monitoring. The 2wire routers in question serve as critical network gateways, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for enterprise and residential networks alike. From an adversary perspective, this represents a low-effort, high-impact attack vector that aligns with ATT&CK technique T1072 - Software Deployment Tools, as attackers can leverage the default administrative access to deploy additional malicious software or establish persistent access points.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. Network administrators should immediately change default passwords and implement strong authentication mechanisms, though in this case the default password is blank rather than weak. The most effective solution involves updating to firmware versions that properly implement authentication controls, as well as conducting comprehensive network audits to identify affected devices. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts. This vulnerability highlights the importance of secure configuration management and demonstrates how default settings can create inherent security weaknesses that require immediate attention. The issue also emphasizes the need for regular security assessments and firmware updates to address known vulnerabilities in network infrastructure devices.