CVE-2016-8361 in JENEsys BAS Bridge
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Lynxspring JENEsys BAS Bridge versions 1.1.8 and older. The application uses a hard-coded username with no password allowing an attacker into the system without authentication.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/14/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8361 affects Lynxspring JENEsys BAS Bridge versions 1.1.8 and earlier, representing a critical authentication flaw that fundamentally undermines the security posture of industrial control systems. This issue manifests through the application's implementation of a hard-coded username credential that lacks any associated password mechanism, creating an inherent backdoor access vector that bypasses all standard authentication protocols. The flaw exists within the application's design architecture where developers embedded a fixed username directly into the software code without proper credential management or authentication enforcement mechanisms.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability constitutes a classic implementation weakness that falls under CWE-798, which specifically addresses the use of hard-coded credentials in software applications. The absence of password requirements for the hard-coded username creates an unauthenticated access point that allows any attacker with knowledge of the credential to gain immediate system access. This design flaw eliminates the fundamental security principle of requiring proper authentication before granting system privileges, effectively providing a permanent entry point that cannot be disabled or modified through standard configuration changes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it represents a critical weakness in industrial cybersecurity infrastructure. In industrial environments where JENEsys BAS Bridge systems are deployed, this vulnerability exposes critical control systems to potential compromise, enabling attackers to manipulate industrial processes, access sensitive operational data, or disrupt critical infrastructure operations. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the fact that it affects versions of the software that may be widely deployed in operational technology environments where security updates are not regularly applied due to operational constraints or lack of awareness.
From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers legitimate credentials, specifically focusing on the use of default or hard-coded credentials as a means of gaining unauthorized access. The attack surface for this vulnerability is particularly concerning in industrial environments where network segmentation may be limited, and where the presence of such hard-coded credentials can enable lateral movement within operational technology networks. Security professionals should recognize this as a high-priority issue requiring immediate remediation, as it represents a fundamental failure in secure coding practices and credential management.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate patching of affected systems to versions that address the hard-coded credential issue, along with implementing proper credential management protocols. Organizations should conduct comprehensive inventory audits to identify all instances of affected software and ensure that updated versions are deployed across all operational environments. Additionally, system administrators should implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts, while establishing proper change management procedures to prevent similar issues in future software deployments. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices and proper credential handling in industrial control systems where security failures can have severe operational and safety implications.