CVE-2015-6296 in Prime Network Registrar
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco Prime Network Registrar (CPNR) 8.1(3.3), 8.2(3), and 8.3(2) has a default account, which allows local users to obtain root access by leveraging knowledge of the credentials, aka Bug ID CSCuw21825.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/18/2022
Cisco Prime Network Registrar version 8.1(3.3), 8.2(3), and 8.3(2) contains a critical security vulnerability that stems from the presence of a default administrative account with hardcoded credentials. This vulnerability falls under the weakness category of CWE-798, which specifically addresses the use of hardcoded credentials in software applications. The flaw represents a fundamental design oversight where the system ships with pre-configured administrative accounts that remain enabled and accessible without proper authentication mechanisms. This default account configuration creates an inherent security risk that can be exploited by any local user who gains knowledge of the hardcoded credentials, effectively bypassing all normal authentication procedures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows for privilege escalation from a standard local user account to root access level privileges. The exploitation process requires minimal technical expertise as it relies on the predictable nature of default credentials rather than complex attack vectors. Local users who can access the system through any legitimate means can simply utilize the known default account credentials to gain administrative control over the network registrar service. This privilege escalation capability enables attackers to modify system configurations, access sensitive network data, and potentially compromise the entire network infrastructure managed by the registrar. The vulnerability demonstrates poor security hygiene in the software development lifecycle where default accounts were not properly disabled or secured during the initial deployment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access as it provides attackers with complete control over the network registrar service and potentially the underlying network infrastructure it manages. Network administrators who rely on Cisco Prime Network Registrar for DNS and DHCP services face significant risk of data compromise, service disruption, and unauthorized network modifications. The vulnerability affects organizations that have not properly secured their systems by disabling default accounts or changing default credentials during deployment. This represents a critical gap in security operations where routine configuration management procedures were not followed, leaving systems vulnerable to exploitation by both internal and external threat actors. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that local access is often easier to obtain than remote access, making this vulnerability particularly attractive to attackers who may have already gained some level of system presence.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation measures including disabling all default accounts and changing default credentials to strong, unique passwords for all administrative accounts. The implementation of principle of least privilege should be enforced where default accounts are completely removed from production systems. Security configuration baselines should be established and regularly audited to ensure that default accounts remain disabled. System administrators should also implement monitoring and logging of administrative account access to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers legitimate credentials and default accounts as entry points for attackers. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar hardcoded credential issues in other network infrastructure components. Additionally, organizations should ensure that their patch management processes include verification that default accounts are properly secured in software deployments.