CVE-2018-15360 in ESP-200
Summary
by MITRE
An attacker without authentication can login with default credentials for privileged users in Eltex ESP-200 firmware version 1.2.0.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2020
This vulnerability exists in the Eltex ESP-200 network device firmware version 1.2.0 where default credentials are hardcoded and accessible to unauthorized users. The flaw represents a critical security weakness that allows unauthenticated attackers to gain privileged access to the device through well-known default username and password combinations. This issue directly violates security best practices by failing to implement proper authentication mechanisms and default credential management. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-798 as the use of hardcoded credentials, which is a well-documented weakness that has been consistently identified as a significant risk in network device security. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it enables remote exploitation without any prior authentication requirements, making it accessible to any attacker with network access to the device.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the firmware design where default administrative credentials are embedded within the device software and remain unchanged unless explicitly modified by a system administrator. This default credential configuration creates a persistent security risk that persists across device reboots and resets, as the credentials are hardcoded in the firmware image itself. Network devices of this nature typically store authentication credentials in configuration files or memory segments that are not properly secured or encrypted. The absence of credential rotation mechanisms and the lack of automatic credential generation upon first boot creates an environment where attackers can easily compromise device access through simple credential guessing or by accessing publicly documented default credentials. This represents a failure in the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor security engineering practices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it provides attackers with full administrative control over the affected network device. Once compromised, attackers can modify network configurations, redirect traffic, implement man-in-the-middle attacks, or use the device as a pivot point for further network reconnaissance and lateral movement. The compromised device can serve as a persistent backdoor within the network infrastructure, allowing attackers to maintain long-term access and control. This vulnerability directly enables several attack patterns listed in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under initial access and privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the use of default credentials for system access. The ability to gain privileged access without authentication creates a significant risk for network security posture, potentially allowing attackers to compromise entire network segments or steal sensitive data flowing through the device.
Organizations should immediately implement several mitigations to address this vulnerability. The primary remediation involves changing default credentials to strong, unique passwords for all administrative accounts and implementing proper credential management policies. Device firmware should be updated to versions that address this vulnerability, with administrators verifying that updates contain proper credential handling mechanisms. Network segmentation should be implemented to limit access to critical devices, and network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unauthorized access attempts. Access control lists and firewall rules should be configured to restrict remote administrative access to only trusted networks and IP addresses. Additionally, regular security audits should be conducted to identify and remediate similar hardcoded credential issues in other network infrastructure components. The implementation of multi-factor authentication and secure remote access solutions should be considered as additional layers of protection. Organizations should also establish procedures for verifying that default credentials have been changed during device deployment and maintain inventories of all network devices with their current authentication status to prevent recurrence of this type of vulnerability.