CVE-2019-3753 in PowerConnect M6220
Summary
by MITRE
Dell EMC PowerConnect 8024, 7000, M6348, M6220, M8024 and M8024-K running firmware versions prior to 5.1.15.2 contain a plain-text password storage vulnerability. TACACS\Radius credentials are stored in plain text in the system settings menu. An authenticated malicious user with access to the system settings menu may obtain the exposed password to use it in further attacks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-3753 affects Dell EMC PowerConnect network switches including models 8024, 7000, M6348, M6220, M8024, and M8024-K. This security flaw resides in firmware versions prior to 5.1.15.2 and represents a critical weakness in credential storage practices. The vulnerability specifically impacts the system settings menu where TACACS and Radius authentication credentials are stored without any form of encryption or obfuscation, creating a significant security risk for network infrastructure administrators who rely on these switches for their network operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the improper handling of authentication credentials within the switch's configuration interface. When administrators configure TACACS or Radius authentication parameters through the system settings menu, the firmware stores these credentials in plain text format rather than implementing secure encryption mechanisms. This design flaw allows any authenticated user with access to the system settings to directly view and extract these credentials without requiring additional exploitation techniques. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-312, which describes the exposure of sensitive information through cleartext storage, and represents a classic example of poor cryptographic implementation in network security devices. The absence of proper credential obfuscation or encryption creates an attack surface that can be exploited by malicious insiders or external attackers who have gained sufficient privileges to access the system configuration interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure and creates cascading security risks within enterprise network environments. An authenticated malicious user who gains access to the system settings menu can immediately extract TACACS and Radius credentials, which typically provide administrative access to network infrastructure and potentially to backend systems that rely on these authentication mechanisms. This exposure enables attackers to perform privilege escalation attacks, gain unauthorized access to network devices, and potentially move laterally within the network environment. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that remains active as long as the affected firmware versions are in use, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that may not regularly update their network infrastructure components. The attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1555.003, which covers credentials from password storage modules, and represents a significant weakness in the principle of least privilege enforcement within network security infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-3753 require immediate firmware updates to version 5.1.15.2 or later, which addresses the plain-text password storage issue through proper credential encryption mechanisms. Organizations should also implement additional access controls and privilege management measures to limit the number of users who can access system settings menus, reducing the potential attack surface for this vulnerability. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unauthorized access attempts to system configuration interfaces, while regular security audits should verify that authentication credentials are properly encrypted and stored. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of updated firmware to ensure that network operations remain stable while addressing the credential storage vulnerability. Administrators should also consider implementing network access controls and multi-factor authentication mechanisms to provide additional layers of protection beyond the basic credential storage issue, as this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure credential handling in network infrastructure devices and aligns with industry best practices for protecting sensitive authentication information in enterprise environments.