CVE-2020-26097 in NVR-915
Summary
by MITRE • 11/18/2020
** UNSUPPORTED WHEN ASSIGNED ** The firmware of the PLANET Technology Corp NVR-915 and NVR-1615 before 2020-10-28 embeds default credentials for root access via telnet. By exposing telnet on the Internet, remote root access on the device is possible. NOTE: This vulnerability only affects products that are no longer supported by the maintainer.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-26097 represents a critical security flaw in the firmware of PLANET Technology Corp NVR-915 and NVR-1615 network video recorder devices. This issue stems from the improper configuration of default authentication credentials within the device firmware, specifically embedding root-level access credentials that remain unchanged even after device deployment. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-798, which addresses the use of hard-coded credentials, making it a fundamental authentication weakness that directly undermines the security posture of affected systems. The flaw exists in the device's telnet service configuration, which is typically disabled or restricted in properly configured systems but remains accessible in vulnerable installations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the exposure of the telnet service to external networks, creating an unauthenticated attack vector that allows remote adversaries to gain full administrative control over the affected devices. This remote root access capability enables attackers to perform complete system compromise operations including but not limited to configuration modification, data exfiltration, device firmware manipulation, and establishment of persistent access points. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects devices that are no longer supported by the vendor, meaning that no official security updates or patches are available to address the flaw. This leaves organizations with no legitimate path to remediate the vulnerability, forcing them to rely on potentially unreliable third-party solutions or complete device replacement.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it fundamentally compromises the security of video surveillance networks that rely on these devices for monitoring and security operations. The embedded credentials provide attackers with unrestricted access to video feeds, device configuration settings, and potentially interconnected network resources that may be protected by the compromised NVR devices. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1078 credential access tactics, specifically targeting legitimate credentials to maintain persistent access. Organizations utilizing these devices may experience significant security breaches, including unauthorized surveillance access, data theft, and potential use of compromised devices as launching points for lateral movement within network environments.
The remediation of this vulnerability requires immediate action from affected organizations, though the lack of vendor support creates significant challenges for resolution. The most effective mitigation strategies include immediate network segmentation to isolate affected devices from critical systems, disabling telnet services entirely if possible, and implementing network access controls to prevent external exposure of these vulnerable services. Organizations should also consider replacing the affected devices with supported models that receive regular security updates, as the embedded default credentials represent a persistent threat that cannot be resolved through configuration changes alone. Security monitoring should include detection of unauthorized telnet connections to these devices, and network administrators should implement comprehensive asset inventory management to identify all potentially affected devices within their infrastructure. The vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of proper device lifecycle management and the risks associated with deploying unsupported network equipment in security-critical applications.