CVE-2022-36611 in A800R
Summary
by MITRE • 08/29/2022
TOTOLINK A800R V4.1.2cu.5137_B20200730 was discovered to contain a hardcoded password for root at /etc/shadow.sample.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/09/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-36611 represents a critical security flaw in TOTOLINK A800R routers running firmware version V4.1.2cu.5137_B20200730. This issue manifests through the presence of a hardcoded root password within the device's configuration files, specifically located at the path /etc/shadow.sample. The discovery of such a vulnerability indicates a fundamental failure in the device's security implementation and configuration management practices. The presence of hardcoded credentials in network devices has long been recognized as a severe security risk that directly violates industry best practices and security standards.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from the improper handling of authentication credentials within the router's firmware. When a device contains hardcoded passwords, it means that the same credentials are embedded within the software code or configuration files, making them accessible to anyone who can read these files or access the device's file system. The specific location at /etc/shadow.sample suggests that this is a sample or reference file that should not be present in production environments, yet its existence indicates poor security hygiene during the development and deployment process. This flaw allows unauthorized users to gain root access to the device without needing to guess or obtain legitimate credentials, effectively bypassing all authentication mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for network administrators and end users. An attacker who discovers this hardcoded credential can immediately gain complete administrative control over the affected router, which provides them with unrestricted access to the network infrastructure. This access level allows for complete network monitoring, traffic interception, and potential lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability affects not only the device itself but also all systems connected to it, as routers serve as critical network gateways and often control access to internal networks. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as the attacker can modify network configurations, install malicious firmware, or establish persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-798, which specifically addresses the use of hard-coded credentials in software, and represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and secure configuration management. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as credential access and privilege escalation, enabling adversaries to establish persistent access to network resources. The presence of hardcoded credentials also violates security standards such as those outlined in NIST SP 800-53 and ISO/IEC 27001, which emphasize the importance of secure credential management and the elimination of hard-coded authentication information. Network security professionals should consider this vulnerability as a high-priority issue requiring immediate remediation through firmware updates, credential rotation, and comprehensive security assessments of all network infrastructure components.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability requires immediate firmware updates from TOTOLINK, as the manufacturer must address the root cause by removing hardcoded credentials from future releases. Network administrators should also conduct comprehensive audits of their network infrastructure to identify any other devices that might contain similar hardcoded credentials. Additional mitigations include implementing network segmentation, monitoring for unauthorized access attempts, and establishing robust credential management policies. The vulnerability serves as a stark reminder of the importance of secure software development practices and the critical need for regular security assessments of network infrastructure components.