CVE-2016-10177 in DWR-932B
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered on the D-Link DWR-932B router. Undocumented TELNET and SSH services provide logins to admin with the password admin and root with the password 1234.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/16/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10177 affects the D-Link DWR-932B router model and represents a critical security flaw stemming from the presence of undocumented remote access services. This issue demonstrates poor security design practices where default credentials are improperly configured and exposed without proper authorization controls, creating an inherent risk that extends beyond typical configuration management failures. The vulnerability exists within the router's firmware implementation where additional services operate outside of standard operational parameters, effectively bypassing normal security protocols that should govern access to administrative interfaces.
The technical flaw manifests through the existence of both TELNET and SSH services that are not documented in official specifications or user manuals. These services operate with hardcoded default credentials that remain unchanged from factory settings, creating a persistent backdoor access mechanism that adversaries can exploit immediately upon network discovery. The TELNET service accepts administrative login with password admin while the SSH service permits root access with password 1234, representing weak authentication mechanisms that fall short of security best practices. This configuration pattern aligns with CWE-798, which addresses the use of hard-coded credentials, and demonstrates a failure to implement proper authentication controls as outlined in security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and immediate, as it allows unauthorized users to gain administrative control over the router without requiring any specialized tools or advanced exploitation techniques. Network attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to the network infrastructure, potentially enabling them to modify routing tables, implement man-in-the-middle attacks, or redirect traffic through malicious endpoints. The exposure of these services creates an attack surface that directly violates the principle of least privilege and provides attackers with direct control over network traffic management and security policy enforcement. This vulnerability can be exploited through automated scanning tools that identify default service configurations, making it particularly dangerous in environments where routers are deployed without proper security hardening.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must include immediate firmware updates from D-Link to address the hardcoded service configurations, though many affected devices may no longer receive official support. Network administrators should disable or remove the undocumented TELNET and SSH services entirely, particularly when these services are not required for legitimate operational purposes. The implementation of network segmentation and access control lists can help limit exposure of these services to authorized personnel only, while regular security audits should verify that no unauthorized services remain active. Additionally, organizations should implement comprehensive vulnerability management programs that include regular scanning for exposed services and proper credential management practices to prevent similar issues from occurring in other network infrastructure components. This vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and implementing proper service configuration management as outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework's initial access techniques that focus on default credentials and weak service configurations.