CVE-2021-34565 in WirelessHART-Gateway
Summary
by MITRE • 08/31/2021
In PEPPERL+FUCHS WirelessHART-Gateway 3.0.7 to 3.0.9 the SSH and telnet services are active with hard-coded credentials.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-34565 affects PEPPERL+FUCHS WirelessHART-Gateway devices running firmware versions 3.0.7 through 3.0.9, representing a critical security flaw that exposes industrial control systems to unauthorized access. This issue stems from the improper configuration of remote access services within the gateway's network stack, where both SSH and telnet protocols are enabled by default without proper authentication mechanisms. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental failure in secure system design, as the device employs hard-coded credentials that remain unchanged across deployments, creating a persistent security weakness that can be exploited by any attacker with knowledge of the default login information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the device's network services configuration where default authentication credentials are embedded directly within the firmware rather than being dynamically generated or properly secured. This hard-coded approach violates multiple security best practices and industry standards including those outlined in CWE-798, which specifically addresses the use of hard-coded credentials in software. The presence of both SSH and telnet services with identical default credentials creates multiple attack vectors, with telnet being particularly concerning as it transmits credentials in plaintext, while SSH, though more secure, remains vulnerable due to the predictable authentication mechanism. The vulnerability exists at the application layer of the network stack, affecting the device's ability to authenticate legitimate users while simultaneously providing unauthorized access to malicious actors.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-34565 extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential compromise of entire industrial control networks, particularly within process automation environments where WirelessHART-Gateway devices serve as critical communication nodes. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can gain full administrative control over the affected devices, potentially enabling them to modify network configurations, access sensitive operational data, or disrupt critical processes. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers legitimate credentials usage, and T1110 which addresses credential access, making it particularly dangerous in industrial environments where such devices often operate in isolated networks with limited monitoring capabilities. The exposure of these default credentials provides attackers with a persistent backdoor that can be leveraged for lateral movement within industrial networks, potentially leading to broader system compromise.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies that include disabling unnecessary network services, changing default credentials to strong, unique passwords, and applying firmware updates provided by PEPPERL+FUCHS to address this vulnerability. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unauthorized access attempts, while security policies must be updated to enforce proper credential management and service configuration. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following security guidelines such as those from NIST SP 800-82 for industrial control systems and ISO/IEC 27001 for information security management. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar configuration weaknesses in other industrial devices, as this flaw demonstrates the common pattern of hard-coded credentials in embedded systems that often go unnoticed during deployment. The incident underscores the critical need for secure-by-design principles in industrial IoT devices and the necessity of proper authentication mechanisms that do not rely on static credentials that can be easily discovered and exploited.