CVE-2024-8450 in GS-4210-24PL4C Hardware 2.0
Summary
by MITRE • 09/30/2024
Certain switch models from PLANET Technology have a Hard-coded community string in the SNMPv1 service, allowing unauthorized remote attackers to use this community string to access the SNMPv1 service with read-write privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/05/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-8450 affects specific switch models manufactured by PLANET Technology and represents a critical security flaw in the SNMPv1 service implementation. This issue stems from the inclusion of a hard-coded community string within the network switch firmware, which serves as a default authentication mechanism for SNMPv1 communications. The presence of such a hard-coded credential creates a persistent security risk that undermines the fundamental security assumptions of the Simple Network Management Protocol. When attackers discover this default community string through reconnaissance or public information disclosure, they gain unauthorized access to the switch's management interface with full read-write privileges, enabling them to manipulate network configurations and potentially escalate their access within the network infrastructure.
The technical flaw manifests as a violation of the principle of least privilege and proper credential management practices, which are core tenets of cybersecurity frameworks such as those defined in the CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) catalog under CWE-521 Weak Password Requirements and CWE-798 Use of Hard-coded Credentials. The hard-coded community string essentially functions as a backdoor that remains active regardless of network configuration changes or administrative password updates. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because SNMPv1 lacks encryption and provides minimal security measures compared to its successors SNMPv2c and SNMPv3, making the impact of unauthorized access significantly more severe. The default community string typically allows for complete read-write access to the switch's configuration parameters, system information, and management functions, providing attackers with substantial control over the network device's operations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability exposes network infrastructure to immediate and potentially devastating attacks that can compromise the entire network fabric managed by the affected switches. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access to include potential network disruption, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within the network environment. Attackers can leverage this access to modify switch configurations, create unauthorized network segments, redirect traffic, or disable network services entirely. The remote nature of this vulnerability means that attackers do not require physical access to the devices or network proximity, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network security is paramount. This vulnerability directly aligns with tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1071.004 Application Layer Protocol: DNS and T1046 Network Service Scanning, as attackers can easily discover and exploit these devices using standard network reconnaissance tools.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling the SNMPv1 service entirely and migrating to SNMPv3, which provides authentication and encryption capabilities. The hard-coded community string must be changed to a strong, unique value if SNMPv1 must remain enabled for legacy compatibility, though this is not recommended. Network segmentation should be implemented to isolate affected devices from critical network segments, and comprehensive network monitoring should be deployed to detect unauthorized SNMP access attempts. Regular vulnerability assessments and network scanning should be conducted to identify other devices with similar hard-coded credentials, as this represents a common pattern in network device firmware. The remediation process should also include reviewing and updating network device management protocols to ensure that all SNMP implementations follow current security best practices, including the use of strong authentication mechanisms and encrypted communications. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network access controls and firewall rules to restrict SNMP traffic to authorized management systems only, thereby reducing the attack surface for such vulnerabilities.