CVE-2011-2024 in CNS Network Registrar Central Configuration Management
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco Network Registrar before 7.2 has a default administrative password, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain access via a TCP session, aka Bug ID CSCsm50627.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/02/2024
Cisco Network Registrar version 7.1 and earlier contains a critical security flaw that stems from the use of a default administrative password configuration. This vulnerability creates an easily exploitable entry point for remote attackers who can establish TCP sessions to the affected system and gain unauthorized administrative access. The flaw exists in the default installation configuration where the system initializes with a well-known default password that has not been changed by administrators during deployment. This represents a fundamental failure in secure configuration management and violates industry best practices for system hardening. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-798 as the use of hard-coded credentials, and it aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.1.1 which covers legitimate credentials in the context of credential access. The default password creates an immediate privilege escalation vector, allowing attackers to bypass normal authentication mechanisms and assume full administrative control over the Network Registrar service. This access enables malicious actors to manipulate DNS records, modify network configurations, and potentially disrupt network services or establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access as it provides attackers with the ability to compromise the core network infrastructure management system. Network Registrar serves as a critical component for DNS and DHCP services in many enterprise environments, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous. Attackers can leverage the administrative access to perform man-in-the-middle attacks, redirect network traffic, or establish backdoors for continued access. The TCP session-based attack vector means that the vulnerability can be exploited from any location with network connectivity to the affected system, making it highly accessible to remote threat actors. This flaw undermines the principle of least privilege and creates a persistent security risk that remains active until the default password is manually changed by system administrators. The vulnerability demonstrates a significant gap in security awareness and configuration management practices within enterprise environments, as default passwords are often overlooked during initial deployment and ongoing maintenance processes.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate remediation measures to address the default password configuration. The primary mitigation involves changing the default administrative password to a strong, randomly generated credential that meets enterprise security requirements. System administrators should conduct comprehensive audits of all deployed Network Registrar instances to identify and remediate affected systems. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of the Network Registrar service to only authorized network segments. Additional security controls including firewall rules, intrusion detection systems, and network monitoring should be deployed to detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar default credential issues in other network infrastructure components. This vulnerability highlights the importance of implementing secure configuration baselines and automated patch management processes to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future. The remediation process should include comprehensive documentation of all security changes and regular review of system configurations to ensure continued compliance with security best practices.