CVE-2018-10024 in VP5208A
Summary
by MITRE
ubiQuoss Switch VP5208A creates a bcm_password file at /cgi-bin/ with the user credentials in cleartext when a failed login attempt occurs. The file can be reached via an HTTP request. The credentials can be used to access the system via SSH (or TELNET if it is enabled).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/24/2020
The ubiQuoss Switch VP5208A vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that exposes user authentication credentials in cleartext format, creating an immediate and significant risk for network infrastructure systems. This vulnerability manifests when the device encounters a failed login attempt, automatically generating a bcm_password file at the /cgi-bin/ directory path. The file contains user credentials in plain text format, making it immediately exploitable by any attacker who can access the device through HTTP requests. This design flaw fundamentally undermines the security posture of the network switch, as it provides unauthorized parties with direct access credentials that can be used to establish remote connections to the device.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of authentication failures within the device's web interface management system. When a user enters incorrect login credentials, the system's response mechanism fails to sanitize or properly secure the credential information before storing it in a publicly accessible directory. The /cgi-bin/ path represents a standard web server directory for executable scripts, but in this case it becomes an insecure storage location for authentication data. The cleartext storage of credentials violates fundamental security principles and creates a persistent threat vector that remains active until the file is manually removed or the device is rebooted.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond the immediate compromise of a single device, as it provides attackers with legitimate administrative access to network infrastructure. Once an attacker obtains the credentials through the publicly accessible bcm_password file, they can establish secure shell connections via SSH or telnet protocols, enabling them to perform administrative functions, modify network configurations, access sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors within the network. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and represents a classic case of insecure credential handling that can lead to complete system compromise. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it requires no sophisticated exploitation techniques beyond basic HTTP request enumeration.
From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to several ATT&CK techniques including T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1046 (Network Service Scanning) as attackers can systematically discover and exploit the cleartext credential storage. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor security architecture practices that violate industry standards for secure application development. Network defenders face significant challenges in detecting this threat, as the credential file remains accessible for extended periods and can be discovered through routine web enumeration activities. The persistent nature of this vulnerability means that even after initial exploitation, the device continues to provide the same credential access vector unless manually addressed through system administration actions.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability include immediate removal of the cleartext credential file, implementation of proper authentication failure handling that does not store credentials in accessible locations, and deployment of network segmentation controls to limit access to the device's web management interface. Organizations should also implement network monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts and credential harvesting activities. The device firmware should be updated to a version that properly handles authentication failures without creating cleartext credential files, and administrative access should be restricted to trusted networks with additional authentication mechanisms such as two-factor authentication. Additionally, regular security audits should be conducted to ensure that no other similar credential storage vulnerabilities exist within the network infrastructure components.