CVE-2019-6548 in Communicator
Summary
by MITRE
GE Communicator, all versions prior to 4.0.517, contains two backdoor accounts with hardcoded credentials, which may allow control over the database. This service is inaccessible to attackers if Windows default firewall settings are used by the end user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-6548 affects GE Communicator software versions prior to 4.0.517, presenting a critical security risk through the presence of hardcoded backdoor accounts. This flaw represents a serious weakness in the application's authentication mechanism, where developers embedded default credentials directly into the software code rather than implementing proper secure credential management practices. The presence of these hardcoded accounts creates a persistent security risk that remains active regardless of user password changes or system updates, fundamentally undermining the security model of the application.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the inclusion of two distinct backdoor accounts within the GE Communicator software with hardcoded username and password combinations that are known to security researchers and malicious actors. These accounts bypass normal authentication procedures and provide unauthorized access to the underlying database system. The vulnerability falls under CWE-798, which specifically addresses the use of hard-coded credentials in software applications, representing one of the most dangerous forms of credential exposure. The flaw allows an attacker with knowledge of these hardcoded credentials to establish database-level access without requiring legitimate user authentication, potentially enabling data exfiltration, modification, or complete system compromise.
From an operational perspective, the impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to include potential data integrity compromise and system availability risks. The backdoor accounts could enable attackers to manipulate database contents, extract sensitive information, or establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the fact that it affects all versions prior to 4.0.517, meaning that organizations running older versions of the software remain exposed to this risk. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1078 which covers valid accounts and T1046 which addresses network service scanning, as attackers could use these backdoors to maintain persistence and conduct further reconnaissance.
The security implications of CVE-2019-6548 are particularly concerning given that the vulnerability can be exploited without requiring network-level access when Windows firewall settings are not properly configured. While the vulnerability description notes that default firewall settings may prevent access, organizations cannot rely on this protection mechanism alone, as firewall configurations vary widely across deployments and may be inadvertently disabled or misconfigured. The presence of hardcoded credentials violates fundamental security principles and represents a failure in secure software development practices. Organizations should immediately implement remediation measures including upgrading to GE Communicator version 4.0.517 or later, which addresses this vulnerability through proper credential management and removal of backdoor accounts. Additionally, network segmentation, regular security audits, and monitoring for unauthorized database access attempts should be implemented to reduce the attack surface and detect potential exploitation attempts.