CVE-2008-1160 in ZyWALL
Summary
by MITRE
ZyXEL ZyWALL 1050 has a hard-coded password for the Quagga and Zebra processes that is not changed when it is set by a user, which allows remote attackers to gain privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/20/2024
The ZyXEL ZyWALL 1050 firewall device contains a critical security vulnerability classified as CVE-2008-1160, which stems from a hard-coded password implementation within its Quagga and Zebra routing processes. This vulnerability represents a fundamental flaw in the device's authentication architecture where default credentials remain persistent regardless of user configuration changes, creating a persistent backdoor access vector for malicious actors. The affected system operates with a hard-coded password for the Quagga routing daemon and Zebra routing process that cannot be altered through normal administrative procedures, effectively bypassing all user-defined security measures.
This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-798, which identifies the use of hard-coded credentials as a significant security weakness, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which covers legitimate credentials for privilege escalation. The technical flaw exists at the application level within the firewall's routing software components where the developers embedded default authentication credentials that persist even after system reconfiguration. The Quagga and Zebra processes are essential for routing functionality within the firewall, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it provides access to core networking operations. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can gain administrative privileges without requiring knowledge of legitimate user credentials, effectively circumventing the device's intended security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it allows remote attackers to establish persistent access to the firewall's routing processes without detection. This creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited from anywhere on the network, potentially enabling attackers to manipulate routing tables, redirect traffic, or establish covert communication channels. The vulnerability undermines the fundamental security model of the device by providing a permanent access point that remains functional regardless of user authentication changes or password updates. Network administrators who believe they have secured their firewall through proper credential management will find their efforts rendered ineffective, as the hard-coded credentials provide an unchanging path to administrative access.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate the affected devices, deployment of network monitoring tools to detect unusual routing behavior, and implementation of intrusion detection systems specifically configured to identify access attempts to the Quagga and Zebra processes. The recommended approach involves disabling unnecessary routing services when possible, implementing strict firewall rules to limit access to these processes, and conducting thorough network audits to identify all instances of the affected ZyWALL 1050 devices. Additionally, security teams should establish monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized access attempts and implement network-wide authentication auditing to ensure no unauthorized access has occurred through this vulnerability. The long-term solution requires device firmware updates from ZyXEL if available, or replacement of the affected hardware with versions that properly handle credential management and authentication processes.