CVE-2008-4874 in VOIP841 DECT Phone
Summary
by MITRE
The web component in Philips Electronics VOIP841 DECT Phone with firmware 1.0.4.50 and 1.0.4.80 has a back door "service" account with "service" as its password, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-4874 affects the web interface component of Philips Electronics VOIP841 DECT Phone devices running firmware versions 1.0.4.50 and 1.0.4.80. This represents a critical security flaw that undermines the device's authentication mechanisms and creates an exploitable backdoor access point for malicious actors. The vulnerability specifically involves a hardcoded service account with a predictable password, creating a persistent access vector that bypasses normal authentication procedures and provides unauthorized users with elevated privileges within the device's web administration interface.
This flaw constitutes a serious weakness in the device's security architecture and aligns with CWE-798, which addresses the use of hard-coded credentials in software systems. The presence of a back door account with the password "service" demonstrates poor security implementation practices and violates fundamental security principles regarding credential management and access control. The vulnerability exists at the application layer of the device's web interface, making it accessible through standard network protocols and potentially exploitable from remote locations without requiring additional authentication factors or complex attack vectors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables attackers to gain full administrative control over the phone device. This access allows malicious actors to modify device configurations, intercept communications, alter security settings, and potentially use the device as a pivot point for accessing other systems within the network. The remote exploitability means that attackers can leverage this vulnerability from outside the local network perimeter, significantly expanding the attack surface and making the device particularly dangerous in enterprise or organizational environments where such devices might be connected to critical infrastructure.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1078 for valid accounts and T1046 for network service scanning, as attackers would likely first identify the device and then attempt to authenticate using the hardcoded credentials. The weakness creates a persistent threat vector that remains active until the device firmware is updated or the back door account is manually disabled. Organizations should implement immediate network segmentation measures to isolate affected devices and establish monitoring protocols to detect unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of regular firmware updates, proper credential management, and adherence to security best practices in embedded systems and IoT devices.