CVE-2014-4752 in Bladecenter 10g Vfsm
Summary
by MITRE
IBM System Networking G8052, G8124, G8124-E, G8124-ER, G8264, G8316, and G8264-T switches before 7.9.10.0; EN4093, EN4093R, CN4093, SI4093, EN2092, and G8264CS switches before 7.8.6.0; Flex System Interconnect Fabric before 7.8.6.0; 1G L2-7 SLB switch for Bladecenter before 21.0.21.0; 10G VFSM for Bladecenter before 7.8.14.0; 1:10G switch for Bladecenter before 7.4.8.0; 1G switch for Bladecenter before 5.3.5.0; Server Connectivity Module before 1.1.3.4; System Networking RackSwitch G8332 before 7.7.17.0; and System Networking RackSwitch G8000 before 7.1.7.0 have hardcoded credentials, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain access via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/08/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4752 represents a critical security flaw affecting multiple IBM networking switches and fabric systems across various product lines including G8052, G8124, G8264, EN4093, and Flex System Interconnect Fabric devices. This weakness stems from the implementation of hardcoded credentials within the firmware of these networking components, creating a persistent security risk that significantly weakens the overall security posture of affected systems. The vulnerability affects numerous models spanning different generations of IBM's networking infrastructure, from blade center switches to rack-mounted systems, indicating a widespread issue that impacts enterprise networking deployments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves embedded default usernames and passwords within the switch firmware that remain unchanged across deployments, providing attackers with a consistent method of gaining unauthorized access. This design flaw allows remote attackers to exploit the system through unspecified network vectors, potentially enabling them to establish persistent access to critical network infrastructure. The hardcoded nature of these credentials means that even when administrators attempt to change passwords or implement security policies, the default credentials remain accessible through the firmware itself, creating a fundamental security weakness that undermines standard authentication mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as compromised network switches can provide attackers with extensive control over network traffic, potentially enabling man-in-the-middle attacks, network segmentation bypasses, and complete network compromise. Attackers can leverage these hardcoded credentials to gain administrative access to switches, allowing them to modify routing tables, implement port mirroring for traffic interception, or disable security features entirely. The widespread nature of affected products means that organizations with multiple network segments using these switches face significant risk of lateral movement attacks, where a single compromised switch can serve as a foothold for accessing other network components.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including firmware upgrades to the latest available versions that address this hardcoded credential issue, as well as network segmentation strategies to limit the potential impact of compromised switches. Security teams must conduct comprehensive inventories of all affected hardware and ensure proper firmware updates are deployed across all network infrastructure components. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-798, which specifically addresses the use of hardcoded credentials, and represents a significant risk under ATT&CK framework category T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting techniques. Additionally, this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following security best practices such as implementing unique credentials for each device and regularly auditing network infrastructure for default credential exposure, as outlined in NIST SP 800-125 and ISO/IEC 27001 security standards.