CVE-2015-2897 in ALEOS
Summary
by MITRE
Sierra Wireless ALEOS before 4.4.2 on AirLink ES, GX, and LS devices has hardcoded root accounts, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain administrative access via a (1) SSH or (2) TELNET session.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/06/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-2897 affects Sierra Wireless ALEOS firmware versions prior to 4.4.2 on AirLink ES, GX, and LS device models. This represents a critical security flaw that undermines the fundamental authentication mechanisms of these industrial communication devices. The issue stems from the inclusion of hardcoded root credentials within the firmware, creating a persistent backdoor that persists across device reboots and factory resets. Such implementation violates core security principles and establishes a significant attack surface for malicious actors targeting industrial control systems and remote access infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves hardcoded administrative credentials that remain unchanged regardless of system configuration or user management activities. When devices are provisioned with these default credentials, attackers can establish authenticated sessions through both SSH and TELNET protocols without requiring any additional authentication factors. This hardcoded credential approach directly maps to CWE-798, which addresses the use of hardcoded credentials in software, and represents a classic example of insecure credential storage practices. The vulnerability specifically affects remote access protocols that are commonly enabled in industrial networking equipment, making the attack vector particularly dangerous for devices deployed in remote or unsecured environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with full administrative privileges over affected devices. This level of access enables comprehensive system compromise including configuration modification, firmware updates, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within network segments. The presence of hardcoded root accounts creates an inherent risk that cannot be mitigated through standard password policies or account management procedures, as these credentials are embedded within the device firmware itself. This vulnerability particularly affects industrial environments where remote monitoring and management of network infrastructure is critical, potentially enabling attackers to disrupt operations or gain access to sensitive industrial control systems.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigation strategies including firmware updates to version 4.4.2 or later, which addresses the hardcoded credential issue through proper authentication mechanisms. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of these devices to untrusted networks, while disabling unnecessary remote access protocols such as TELNET when SSH is available. Security monitoring should include detection of unauthorized access attempts using default credentials, and regular vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify other devices with similar hardcoded credential implementations. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under credential access techniques, specifically targeting the use of default credentials as part of initial access and privilege escalation activities. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all devices running affected firmware versions and implement proper change management procedures to prevent future occurrences of hardcoded credentials in network infrastructure deployments.