CVE-2018-16201 in Home Gateway HEM-GW16A
Summary
by MITRE
Toshiba Home gateway HEM-GW16A 1.2.9 and earlier, Toshiba Home gateway HEM-GW26A 1.2.9 and earlier uses hard-coded credentials, which may allow an attacker on the same network segment to login to the administrators settings screen and change the configuration or execute arbitrary OS commands.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/27/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-16201 affects Toshiba Home gateway devices including models HEM-GW16A and HEM-GW26A running firmware versions 1.2.9 and earlier. This security flaw represents a critical weakness in the device's authentication mechanism where hardcoded credentials are embedded within the firmware, creating a persistent backdoor that remains accessible regardless of user configuration changes. The presence of hard-coded credentials violates fundamental security principles and establishes a direct path for unauthorized access to administrative functions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the device's design where default username and password combinations are permanently embedded in the firmware code rather than being dynamically generated or securely stored. This approach aligns with CWE-798, which specifically addresses the use of hard-coded credentials in software systems. When an attacker gains network access to the same segment as the device, they can exploit these hardcoded credentials to bypass normal authentication procedures and gain administrative privileges. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires minimal sophistication and only network connectivity to the affected device's network segment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as the attacker with administrative privileges can modify device configurations, install malicious software, and potentially execute arbitrary operating system commands. This level of access enables attackers to establish persistent backdoors, modify network settings, redirect traffic, or even use the device as a pivot point to attack other systems within the local network. The implications are particularly severe in home network environments where these devices often serve as the primary gateway to internet connectivity and may be connected to sensitive personal and financial information systems. The vulnerability creates a pathway for lateral movement within networks and can facilitate more complex attack campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action including firmware updates from Toshiba to address the hardcoded credential issue, network segmentation to isolate critical devices, and implementation of network monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts. Organizations and individuals should also consider disabling unnecessary services and ports on the affected devices, implementing strong network access controls, and regularly auditing device configurations. The remediation process must address the root cause by ensuring that all authentication credentials are properly managed and that no hardcoded values exist in production firmware. This vulnerability underscores the importance of secure software development practices and adherence to security standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks, particularly in IoT and networking device security where the attack surface is often expanded by poor credential management practices.