CVE-2012-5862 in Esolar Duo Photovoltaic System Monitor
Summary
by MITRE
login.php on the Sinapsi eSolar Light Photovoltaic System Monitor (aka Schneider Electric Ezylog photovoltaic SCADA management server), Sinapsi eSolar, and Sinapsi eSolar DUO with firmware before 2.0.2870_2.2.12 establishes multiple hardcoded accounts, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain administrative access by leveraging a (1) cleartext password or (2) password hash contained in this script, as demonstrated by a password of astridservice or 36e44c9b64.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2025
The CVE-2012-5862 vulnerability affects the Sinapsi eSolar Light Photovoltaic System Monitor, a Schneider Electric Ezylog photovoltaic SCADA management server, and related Sinapsi eSolar DUO devices running firmware versions prior to 2.0.2870_2.2.12. This critical security flaw resides within the login.php script of these industrial monitoring systems, which are widely deployed in solar energy management environments. The vulnerability represents a fundamental design flaw that undermines the security posture of distributed energy resources and smart grid infrastructure components.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the inclusion of multiple hardcoded user accounts directly within the login.php script, which violates established security principles for authentication mechanisms. These hardcoded credentials are stored in cleartext format or as password hashes, making them easily accessible to any attacker who can reach the system through network-based reconnaissance. The specific hardcoded passwords demonstrated in the exploit include "astridservice" and the hash "36e44c9b64", which represents a weak cryptographic implementation that can be readily reversed or cracked through dictionary attacks. This flaw aligns with CWE-798, which specifically addresses the use of hardcoded passwords in software applications, and CWE-259, which covers the use of hard-coded passwords in authentication systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as these monitoring systems typically control critical photovoltaic infrastructure components and provide real-time data collection for energy management decisions. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability gain administrative privileges that allow them to manipulate system configurations, access sensitive operational data, and potentially disrupt energy generation processes. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access to the devices, making the threat surface significantly larger and more dangerous for industrial environments. This vulnerability directly relates to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers Valid Accounts and T1566 which addresses Phishing, as the hardcoded credentials provide legitimate access paths that bypass normal authentication mechanisms.
Organizations deploying these systems face significant risks including potential energy theft through unauthorized system manipulation, disruption of solar power generation, and exposure of proprietary operational data. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple device variants and firmware versions suggests a systemic design flaw that affects numerous installations within the distributed energy sector. Mitigation strategies should include immediate firmware updates to version 2.0.2870_2.2.12 or later, network segmentation to isolate these devices from critical infrastructure, and implementation of network monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts. Security professionals should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of all industrial control systems to identify similar hardcoded credential implementations that may exist in other proprietary monitoring solutions. The presence of such vulnerabilities in industrial IoT devices highlights the critical need for secure development practices and regular security audits in energy management systems that form part of critical infrastructure.