CVE-2018-14943 in NSG 9000
Summary
by MITRE
Harmonic NSG 9000 devices have a default password of nsgadmin for the admin account, a default password of nsgguest for the guest account, and a default password of nsgconfig for the config account.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/13/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-14943 affects Harmonic NSG 9000 network security devices, representing a critical authentication flaw that exposes these systems to unauthorized access. This issue stems from the device's implementation of default credentials that remain unchanged after initial deployment, creating a persistent security weakness that adversaries can readily exploit. The vulnerability specifically impacts three administrative accounts with well-known default passwords, providing attackers with multiple entry points into the network infrastructure. These default credentials are not only documented in the device documentation but are also widely known within the cybersecurity community, making them particularly dangerous when deployed in production environments without proper credential management.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-798, which addresses the use of hard-coded credentials in software, and CWE-706, which covers the use of incorrect data structures. The flaw represents a fundamental failure in secure configuration management where devices are shipped with weak authentication mechanisms that should be immediately changed upon installation. The default password for the admin account nsgadmin provides full administrative privileges, while the guest account nsgguest and config account nsgconfig offer additional attack vectors that can be leveraged to escalate privileges or access sensitive network configurations. This vulnerability directly violates security best practices outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO/IEC 27001 standards, which mandate the implementation of strong authentication controls and regular credential updates.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it allows unauthorized parties to gain immediate administrative access to critical network infrastructure without requiring advanced exploitation techniques or specialized tools. Attackers can leverage these default credentials to perform reconnaissance, modify network configurations, access sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors within the network. The vulnerability's exploitation can lead to complete network compromise, data breaches, and disruption of critical services that depend on the NSG 9000 devices for security operations. According to MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation), as it enables adversaries to use legitimate credentials for unauthorized access and privilege escalation within the network environment.
Organizations should implement immediate remediation measures including changing all default passwords to strong, unique credentials that meet industry standards for password complexity. The recommended mitigation strategy involves establishing a comprehensive credential management policy that requires all default accounts to be disabled or have their passwords changed during initial deployment. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit the impact of potential credential compromise, while regular security audits should verify that default credentials have been properly addressed. Additionally, device firmware should be updated to versions that enforce stronger authentication mechanisms and prevent the use of default credentials, with continuous monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of following the principle of least privilege and implementing robust security configurations as outlined in the CIS Critical Security Controls framework, which emphasizes the need for secure configuration management and continuous monitoring of network access controls.