CVE-2012-4577 in Jetport
Summary
by MITRE
The Linux firmware image on (1) Korenix Jetport 5600 series serial-device servers and (2) ORing Industrial DIN-Rail serial-device servers has a hardcoded password of "password" for the root account, which allows remote attackers to obtain administrative access via an SSH session.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/12/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-4577 represents a critical security flaw affecting firmware implementations on industrial serial-device servers manufactured by Korenix and ORing. This issue specifically impacts the Korenix Jetport 5600 series and ORing Industrial DIN-Rail serial-device servers, which are commonly deployed in industrial environments for serial communication management. These devices operate as network-accessible endpoints that require administrative access for configuration and maintenance purposes, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking persistent access to industrial control systems.
The technical flaw manifests through a hardcoded credential mechanism within the firmware image itself. The root account is configured with a default password of "password" which is embedded directly into the firmware during the manufacturing process. This hardcoded credential approach violates fundamental security principles and represents a classic example of weak credential management as categorized under CWE-798. The vulnerability exists at the firmware level rather than at the application layer, making it particularly dangerous because it cannot be easily remediated through standard software updates or password changes. Attackers can exploit this weakness remotely via SSH connections, eliminating the need for physical access or additional attack vectors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass significant risks for industrial environments. Remote attackers who successfully establish SSH sessions with administrative privileges can execute arbitrary commands, modify system configurations, access sensitive data, and potentially disrupt critical industrial processes. This vulnerability directly enables privilege escalation attacks and provides attackers with persistent access to network infrastructure that may control or monitor industrial equipment. The implications are particularly severe in industrial control systems where such devices often serve as gateways to broader operational technology networks, potentially enabling lateral movement and more extensive compromise as outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation and lateral movement techniques.
The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental failure in secure development practices and configuration management for industrial IoT devices. Firmware images should never contain hardcoded credentials, as this creates a persistent security risk that affects all devices manufactured with the same firmware version. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation, disabling unnecessary services, and deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for unauthorized SSH access attempts. The use of strong, unique credentials for administrative accounts, along with regular firmware updates and security audits, becomes essential to prevent exploitation of such vulnerabilities. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing network access controls and monitoring solutions to detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts to these industrial devices. This vulnerability highlights the critical need for manufacturers to follow secure coding practices and for organizations to maintain comprehensive inventory management of all networked industrial devices to ensure proper security configuration and ongoing vulnerability assessment.