CVE-2026-103548 in MV-90
Summary
by MITRE • 09/30/2026
Improperly stored passwords in the config file in Itron MV-90 xi 3.0 allows attackers to decode the passwords and password histories to gain access to the MV-90 application as any user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/30/2026
The vulnerability identified within the Itron MV-90 xi version 3.0 firmware represents a critical failure in credential management, specifically categorized under CWE-256: Unprotected Storage of Credentials. This flaw stems from the improper storage mechanism employed by the application when persisting user passwords and password history data into its configuration files. Rather than utilizing robust cryptographic hashing algorithms with appropriate salting techniques to obscure sensitive authentication material, the system stores these values in a manner that allows for straightforward decoding or reverse engineering. This architectural deficiency means that any individual who gains access to the underlying file system of the device can retrieve plaintext or easily reversible representations of user credentials. The presence of password history data further exacerbates this risk, as it may reveal patterns or previously used passwords that could aid in brute-force attacks or social engineering efforts aimed at compromising account integrity.
From an operational perspective, the impact of this vulnerability is severe and directly compromises the confidentiality and availability aspects of the system's security posture. Attackers who exploit this flaw can decode stored credentials to impersonate legitimate users within the MV-90 application. This capability effectively bypasses authentication controls entirely, allowing unauthorized entities to assume administrative or standard user privileges without needing valid login information. In industrial control environments where devices like the Itron MV-90 are deployed for metering and grid management, such unauthorized access can lead to significant operational disruptions. An attacker could potentially manipulate device settings, exfiltrate sensitive consumption data, or use the compromised node as a pivot point to launch further attacks against adjacent systems on the network. The ability to act as any user undermines the principle of least privilege and erodes trust in the system's audit trails, making it difficult to attribute actions to specific individuals during incident response activities.
This vulnerability aligns with several entries in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to credential access and lateral movement. The initial exploitation phase corresponds to techniques involving unauthorized access to stored credentials, often leveraging local file read permissions or weak encryption implementations. Once authenticated as a different user, the attacker may employ privilege escalation tactics if higher-level accounts are compromised, facilitating broader network infiltration. To mitigate this risk, immediate remediation efforts should focus on refactoring the authentication module of the MV-90 xi application to enforce industry-standard password storage practices. This includes implementing salted hashing algorithms such as bcrypt, scrypt, or Argon2, ensuring that even if configuration files are accessed, passwords remain computationally infeasible to reverse engineer. Additionally, developers should review all data persistence mechanisms across the firmware to identify and rectify similar weaknesses in other sensitive fields.
Beyond technical fixes, organizational security protocols must be updated to address this class of vulnerability. Regular audits of configuration file permissions are essential to ensure that only authorized system processes can read or write these files, reducing the attack surface for local privilege escalation attacks. Furthermore, implementing multi-factor authentication where feasible adds a layer of defense-in-depth that remains effective even if static credentials are compromised. For existing deployments, applying vendor-provided patches is critical until code-level remediation is available. Security teams should also monitor network traffic originating from MV-90 devices for anomalous behavior indicative of unauthorized access attempts or data exfiltration, leveraging intrusion detection systems tuned to detect patterns associated with credential abuse and lateral movement within industrial networks.