CVE-2009-2357 in TekRADIUS
Summary
by MITRE
The default configuration of TekRADIUS 3.0 uses the sa account to communicate with Microsoft SQL Server, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain privileged access to the database and the underlying Windows operating system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-2357 resides within the TekRADIUS 3.0 authentication and database communication framework, representing a critical configuration flaw that undermines the security posture of organizations relying on this network access control solution. This issue manifests through the application's default configuration that explicitly utilizes the highly privileged sa (system administrator) account for database connectivity with Microsoft SQL Server, creating a significant attack surface that malicious actors can exploit to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system resources.
The technical flaw stems from the application's design decision to hardcode administrative credentials for database communication, violating fundamental security principles of least privilege and credential separation. When TekRADIUS 3.0 establishes connections to the SQL Server database, it leverages the sa account which possesses full administrative rights over the database instance and, by extension, the underlying Windows operating system through the database server's access controls. This configuration directly maps to CWE-798, which addresses the use of hard-coded credentials, and represents a classic example of insecure default configurations that persist across multiple system components. The vulnerability essentially eliminates the need for attackers to first compromise user accounts or escalate privileges through other means, as they can directly leverage the administrative database access to move laterally within the network infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized database access, creating a pathway for attackers to achieve comprehensive system compromise. Once an attacker gains access to the database through the sa account, they can manipulate authentication records, modify user permissions, extract sensitive information, and potentially establish persistent backdoors within the network access control infrastructure. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations using TekRADIUS for wireless network authentication, VPN access, or other network access control scenarios where the system serves as a critical gateway for network connectivity. The attack vector is straightforward and requires minimal technical expertise, as remote attackers only need to establish communication with the TekRADIUS service to exploit the hardcoded administrative credentials.
Organizations should implement immediate remediation measures including changing the default database connection credentials to use least-privileged accounts with specific permissions required for the application's functionality, rather than administrative accounts. The recommended mitigation strategy involves configuring TekRADIUS to utilize service accounts with minimal necessary privileges, implementing network segmentation to isolate the database server, and conducting regular security audits to ensure that default configurations are not in use. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing database activity monitoring and alerting mechanisms to detect unauthorized access attempts, as this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation through legitimate system access. The security principle of defense in depth becomes critical here, requiring multiple layers of protection beyond just credential management to prevent exploitation of such configuration flaws.