CVE-2020-5349 in Networking S4100 Switch
Summary
by MITRE • 07/20/2021
Dell EMC Networking S4100 and S5200 Series Switches manufactured prior to February 2020 contain a hardcoded credential vulnerability. A remote unauthenticated malicious user could exploit this vulnerability and gain administrative privileges.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/22/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-5349 affects Dell EMC Networking S4100 and S5200 Series Switches that were manufactured before February 2020, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of network infrastructure devices. This hardcoded credential vulnerability exists within the switch firmware and allows unauthorized remote access to administrative functions without requiring authentication. The flaw specifically impacts devices that incorporate a default username and password combination that remains unchanged throughout the device lifecycle, creating a persistent security risk that extends far beyond the initial deployment period.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the inclusion of hardcoded administrative credentials within the switch firmware code, a practice that violates fundamental security principles and is classified as CWE-798. This hardcoded credential mechanism allows any remote attacker who can reach the device to authenticate with administrative privileges using predetermined credentials. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the network infrastructure level where switches serve as critical components in enterprise and data center environments, providing the foundation for network connectivity and security policies. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain complete control over the affected switches, potentially leading to network disruption, data exfiltration, or lateral movement within the network environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with the ability to modify switch configurations, implement man-in-the-middle attacks, or redirect network traffic through malicious routing changes. Network administrators lose control over critical network infrastructure, and the compromised switches can become entry points for broader network infiltration attempts. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers do not require physical access or local network presence to exploit the vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network devices are exposed to external networks or where traditional network segmentation measures may be insufficient. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers legitimate credentials and T1566 which involves credential harvesting and exploitation.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including firmware updates from Dell EMC that address this hardcoded credential issue, network segmentation to isolate affected switches, and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. The recommended remediation involves updating to firmware versions released after February 2020 that eliminate the hardcoded credentials and implement proper authentication mechanisms. Additionally, network administrators should conduct comprehensive inventory audits to identify all affected devices and implement network monitoring to detect suspicious authentication attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper credential management and the necessity of avoiding hardcoded credentials in production systems, particularly in network infrastructure where the impact of compromise can be catastrophic.