CVE-2025-59180 in Packet Core Controller
Summary
by MITRE • 07/27/2026
Ericsson Packet Core Controller (PCC) versions prior to 1.38 contain a hardcoded credential vulnerability in the alarm system. An attacker with access to the cluster with knowledge of the hardcoded credential can read alarm and alert information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/27/2026
The Ericsson Packet Core Controller PCC vulnerability represents a critical security flaw affecting versions prior to 1.38 that exposes hardcoded credentials within the system's alarm management infrastructure. This weakness falls under the category of hardcoded credentials as defined by CWE-798, where sensitive authentication information is embedded directly within the application code or configuration files rather than being dynamically managed through secure credential storage mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically impacts the alarm and alert subsystem, which serves as a critical monitoring component for network operations and security event detection.
The technical implementation of this flaw allows an attacker with cluster access to exploit predetermined credentials that have not been properly secured or rotated. This hardcoded authentication mechanism provides unauthorized parties with direct read access to alarm and alert information that would normally be protected through proper authentication controls. The nature of the vulnerability means that even if other security measures are in place, the presence of these embedded credentials creates a backdoor access point that bypasses standard authentication procedures.
Operationally, this vulnerability poses significant risks to network security monitoring capabilities and operational integrity. Attackers who can leverage these hardcoded credentials gain visibility into system alarms and alerts that may contain sensitive information about network vulnerabilities, security incidents, or operational anomalies. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as the alarm data often contains contextual information about system behavior, performance degradation, or potential security breaches that could be exploited to plan further attacks. This access could enable attackers to identify system weaknesses, understand network topology through alert patterns, or discover other potential vulnerabilities within the packet core infrastructure.
The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in secure development practices and configuration management within the Ericsson PCC implementation. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to version 1.38 or later where the hardcoded credentials have been removed or properly secured. Additional protective measures include network segmentation to limit cluster access, monitoring for unauthorized credential usage, and implementing comprehensive credential rotation policies. From an att&ck framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques such as credential access through hard-coded credentials and privilege escalation via system information discovery. The remediation process should involve thorough code review to identify any other hardcoded credentials within the system, implementation of secure credential management practices, and regular security assessments to prevent similar issues in future deployments.
Security teams must prioritize immediate assessment of their Ericsson PCC implementations to identify affected versions and ensure proper patching has been completed. The presence of hardcoded credentials represents a persistent risk that requires ongoing monitoring and verification that such vulnerabilities have not been introduced through configuration changes or custom modifications to the system. Organizations should also consider implementing automated scanning tools to detect hardcoded credentials in their code repositories and configuration files as part of comprehensive security hygiene practices.