CVE-2020-3928 in Door Access Control
Summary
by MITRE
GeoVision Door Access Control device family is hardcoded with a root password, which adopting an identical password in all devices.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/24/2020
The GeoVision Door Access Control device family represents a critical security vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-3928, where all devices within this product line contain a hardcoded root password that remains consistent across every unit in the deployment. This flaw fundamentally undermines the security posture of physical access control systems that organizations rely upon to protect sensitive facilities and assets. The vulnerability affects a wide range of GeoVision door access control devices, making it particularly concerning given the widespread adoption of these systems in enterprise, government, and industrial environments where physical security is paramount.
This technical flaw constitutes a severe configuration weakness that directly violates fundamental security principles of authentication and access control. The hardcoded root password creates a universal backdoor that allows any attacker who discovers this credential to gain full administrative privileges across all devices in the affected product line. The vulnerability operates at the design level rather than as a runtime flaw, meaning that the password is embedded within the device firmware during manufacturing, making it impossible to change or remove without physical access to the device or a firmware update from the vendor. This type of flaw aligns with CWE-798, which specifically addresses the use of hard-coded credentials in software, and represents a classic example of poor secure coding practices in embedded systems development.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access to device configuration interfaces. Attackers who exploit this weakness can manipulate access control policies, add or remove users from the system, disable security features, and potentially gain physical access to secured areas by modifying door access permissions. The consistency of the password across all devices within the product family means that a single successful attack can compromise an entire access control network, potentially affecting multiple buildings or facilities. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers legitimate credentials used for unauthorized access, and represents a significant risk to supply chain security given that these devices are often deployed in critical infrastructure environments.
Organizations utilizing GeoVision door access control devices should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability. The primary recommendation involves conducting an inventory of all affected devices and implementing network segmentation to isolate these systems from critical business networks. Additionally, security teams should consider deploying network monitoring tools to detect unauthorized access attempts and establish incident response procedures specifically tailored to address physical access control breaches. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and penetration testing of physical security infrastructure, as these systems often receive less attention than traditional network security components. Organizations should also work with their GeoVision vendors to obtain firmware updates that address this hardcoded credential issue, while simultaneously implementing multi-factor authentication mechanisms where possible to add additional layers of security to their access control systems.