CVE-2022-46637 in PRS1841
Summary
by MITRE • 02/21/2023
Prolink router PRS1841 was discovered to contain hardcoded credentials for its Telnet and FTP services.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/23/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-46637 affects the Prolink router model PRS1841 and represents a critical security flaw involving hardcoded authentication credentials. This issue exposes the device to unauthorized access through both Telnet and FTP services, creating significant operational risks for organizations relying on these network devices. The presence of hardcoded credentials indicates a fundamental design flaw in the router's security implementation, where administrative access details are embedded directly within the firmware rather than being dynamically generated or securely configured during deployment. Such a configuration violates core security principles and creates persistent attack vectors that remain viable regardless of network changes or administrative password updates.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-798 category of using hardcoded credentials, which is classified as a high-risk security weakness in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. The flaw enables attackers to gain unauthorized access to network infrastructure through well-known default credentials that are embedded within the device firmware. The Telnet service typically provides command-line access to the router's operating system, while the FTP service allows file transfer operations that can be exploited for data exfiltration or further network penetration. Attackers can leverage these services to execute arbitrary commands, modify network configurations, access sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. The operational impact extends beyond immediate unauthorized access, as these services may provide attackers with the ability to manipulate network traffic, create unauthorized network segments, or serve as launching points for lateral movement attacks.
The vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1021.004 for remote services and T1078 for valid accounts, as attackers can leverage the hardcoded credentials to establish legitimate-looking connections to the network. Organizations using the PRS1841 router face significant exposure risks, particularly in environments where network segmentation is not properly implemented or where these devices are connected to critical network segments. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that Telnet and FTP services are often enabled by default on many network devices, and the hardcoded credentials remain effective across device reboots or firmware updates that do not address the underlying credential storage mechanism. This persistent nature of the flaw makes it particularly dangerous as it requires physical access to the device or knowledge of the specific model to identify and exploit.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-46637 should focus on immediate operational responses including disabling or removing the Telnet and FTP services from the affected router if they are not required for legitimate network operations. Network administrators should implement network segmentation to isolate these devices from critical network segments and deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for unauthorized access attempts. The most effective long-term solution involves firmware updates from the vendor that address the hardcoded credential issue, though organizations should verify that such updates properly eliminate the embedded credentials rather than simply replacing them with new hardcoded values. Security monitoring should include regular vulnerability scans to identify other devices with similar hardcoded credential issues, and administrative procedures should be established to ensure that default credentials are changed immediately upon device deployment. Additionally, implementing network access controls, using secure protocols like SSH instead of Telnet, and maintaining comprehensive inventory records of all network devices can help reduce the overall risk exposure from such vulnerabilities.