CVE-2022-4126 in RCCMD
Summary
by MITRE • 03/27/2023
Use of Default Password vulnerability in ABB RCCMD on Windows, Linux, MacOS allows Try Common or Default Usernames and Passwords.This issue affects RCCMD: before 4.40 230207.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/15/2023
The CVE-2022-4126 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in ABB RCCMD software across multiple operating systems including Windows, Linux, and MacOS. This vulnerability falls under the category of weak authentication mechanisms and specifically manifests as the use of default passwords that persist across different platform implementations. The affected software version ranges prior to 4.40 230207, indicating that organizations running older iterations of this industrial control software face significant security risks. The vulnerability enables attackers to exploit default authentication credentials through systematic attempts using common or default usernames and passwords, essentially providing an open door for unauthorized access to critical industrial systems.
This security weakness directly maps to CWE-798, which focuses on the use of hard-coded credentials, and CWE-799, which addresses insufficient or ineffective authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability operates at the authentication layer of the software stack, where default credentials are implemented without proper configuration or user intervention. The attack surface is particularly concerning for industrial environments where ABB RCCMD systems control critical infrastructure operations, as these default credentials are often well-known within security communities and can be easily discovered through public repositories, security databases, or simple reconnaissance activities. The operational impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as these default credentials typically provide administrative privileges, allowing attackers to modify system configurations, access sensitive data, or potentially disrupt operations.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1110.001, which involves credential guessing using default credentials, and T1078.004, which covers valid accounts used for lateral movement. Organizations utilizing ABB RCCMD software in industrial control systems face significant operational risks including potential data breaches, system compromise, and disruption of critical processes. The vulnerability's cross-platform nature means that attackers can leverage the same default credential sets across different operating systems, increasing the attack surface and reducing the effectiveness of platform-specific security controls. This particular weakness is especially dangerous in environments where network segmentation is not properly implemented, as attackers can move laterally through the network once initial access is achieved.
The recommended mitigations for CVE-2022-4126 involve immediate implementation of security patches and updates to ABB RCCMD software versions 4.40 230207 or later. Organizations must conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all instances of the vulnerable software across their networks and ensure proper credential management practices are implemented. This includes changing default passwords to strong, unique credentials for each system instance and implementing multi-factor authentication where possible. Security teams should also establish monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized access attempts and implement network segmentation to limit the potential impact of credential compromise. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper software lifecycle management and the necessity of keeping industrial control systems updated with the latest security patches to prevent exploitation by threat actors who continuously scan for known vulnerabilities in operational technology environments.