CVE-2018-16186 in Interactive Whiteboard D2200
Summary
by MITRE
RICOH Interactive Whiteboard D2200 V1.1 to V2.2, D5500 V1.1 to V2.2, D5510 V1.1 to V2.2, the display versions with RICOH Interactive Whiteboard Controller Type1 V1.1 to V2.2 attached (D5520, D6500, D6510, D7500, D8400), and the display versions with RICOH Interactive Whiteboard Controller Type2 V3.0 to V3.1.10137.0 attached (D5520, D6510, D7500, D8400) uses hard-coded credentials, which may allow an attacker on the same network segments to login to the administrators settings screen and change the configuration.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/27/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-16186 represents a critical security flaw in RICOH Interactive Whiteboard systems that affects multiple device models including D2200, D5500, D5510, D5520, D6500, D6510, D7500, and D8400. These devices utilize hard-coded credentials within their firmware implementations, creating a persistent security weakness that can be exploited by attackers who gain access to the same network segment. The vulnerability specifically impacts systems with RICOH Interactive Whiteboard Controller Type1 versions V1.1 through V2.2 and Controller Type2 versions V3.0 through V3.1.10137.0, exposing administrative interfaces to unauthorized access attempts.
This security weakness falls under the CWE-798 category of using hardcoded credentials, which represents one of the most fundamental and dangerous security misconfigurations in networked systems. The hard-coded credentials allow attackers to bypass normal authentication mechanisms and gain administrative access to the device configuration interfaces without requiring legitimate user credentials or authentication tokens. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects interactive whiteboard systems that are often deployed in corporate environments, educational institutions, and government facilities where sensitive information may be processed or displayed. The exposure of administrative interfaces through hardcoded credentials creates a persistent backdoor that remains active regardless of password changes or user account modifications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to include potential system compromise and data exposure. An attacker with network access can manipulate device configurations, potentially disrupting services, modifying network settings, or even installing malicious software. The attack vector requires only local network access, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network segmentation is not properly implemented. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which covers legitimate credentials, and T1566.001 which involves spearphishing with a malicious attachment, as the hardcoded credentials provide a persistent method for attackers to maintain access to the system. The attack surface is significantly expanded because these devices are often connected to internal networks and may have access to sensitive corporate or educational data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action from system administrators to implement network segmentation and access controls. The most effective immediate solution involves disabling unnecessary network services and ensuring that administrative interfaces are not exposed to untrusted networks. Network segmentation using firewalls and VLANs should be implemented to isolate these devices from critical network segments. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts to these devices. The recommended long-term solution involves firmware updates from RICOH to address the hardcoded credential issue, though this may not be possible for all affected devices given their age and support lifecycle. System administrators should also implement regular security assessments to identify similar hardcoded credentials in other networked devices and ensure proper credential management practices are followed throughout the organization's IT infrastructure.