CVE-2018-15427 in Connected Safety
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in Cisco Video Surveillance Manager (VSM) Software running on certain Cisco Connected Safety and Security Unified Computing System (UCS) platforms could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to log in to an affected system by using the root account, which has default, static user credentials. The vulnerability is due to the presence of undocumented, default, static user credentials for the root account of the affected software on certain systems. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by using the account to log in to an affected system. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to log in to the affected system and execute arbitrary commands as the root user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-15427 represents a critical authentication flaw in Cisco Video Surveillance Manager software deployed on specific Cisco UCS platforms. This weakness stems from the inclusion of default, static credentials for the root account within the software configuration, creating an inherent security risk that persists across affected deployments. The vulnerability specifically targets systems where the Video Surveillance Manager software operates, particularly those integrated with Cisco Connected Safety and Security UCS infrastructure, making it a significant concern for organizations relying on these unified computing systems for security operations.
The technical nature of this flaw aligns with CWE-798, which categorizes the use of hard-coded credentials as a significant security weakness. The vulnerability exists because the system contains undocumented default user credentials for the root account, eliminating the need for legitimate authentication attempts. Attackers can exploit this by simply using the known static credentials to establish an authenticated session with the system, bypassing normal authentication mechanisms entirely. This design flaw fundamentally undermines the security model of the affected systems, as the default configuration provides an open door for unauthorized access without requiring any specialized knowledge or advanced exploitation techniques.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables remote code execution as the root user, providing attackers with complete system control. The implications extend far beyond simple unauthorized access, as the root account typically possesses unrestricted privileges across the system, allowing attackers to modify configurations, install malicious software, access all stored data, and potentially escalate their access to other connected systems. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no authentication from the attacker's perspective, and the vulnerability affects systems that are often deployed in security-critical environments where unauthorized access could compromise entire surveillance networks and physical security infrastructure.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigation strategies focusing on credential management and system hardening. The primary recommendation involves changing default credentials to strong, unique passwords for all administrative accounts, including the root account, and ensuring that such credentials are properly managed through secure processes. Network segmentation and access control measures should be enhanced to limit lateral movement within affected environments, while regular security audits should verify that default accounts remain disabled or have been properly secured. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following security best practices such as those outlined in the CIS Critical Security Controls and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts, highlighting the necessity of proper account management and monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts.