CVE-2026-26049 in USR-W610
Summary
by MITRE • 02/20/2026
The web management interface of the device renders the passwords in a plaintext input field. The current password is directly visible to anyone with access to the UI, potentially exposing administrator credentials to unauthorized observation via shoulder surfing, screenshots, or browser form caching.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/20/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in the web management interface of network devices where administrative credentials are exposed through plaintext input fields. The issue stems from improper handling of sensitive information within the user interface, creating an environment where passwords are displayed in plain text rather than being masked or obscured. This design flaw directly violates fundamental security principles for credential handling and exposes administrative accounts to various attack vectors that can be exploited by adversaries with physical or remote access to the device. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it eliminates the basic security measure of password masking that users expect and security professionals rely upon for protecting sensitive authentication data.
The technical implementation of this flaw demonstrates a failure in input field sanitization and user interface security controls. When passwords are rendered in plaintext fields, they become visible to anyone who can observe the screen or access the device interface, including unauthorized users who may have gained physical access or remote access through other means. This exposure occurs through multiple attack vectors including shoulder surfing attacks where attackers observe passwords being entered, screenshot capture by malicious actors, and browser form caching mechanisms that may store the plaintext credentials. The vulnerability essentially eliminates the security boundary that should exist between the user interface and the sensitive data being processed, allowing any observer with access to the management interface to obtain administrative credentials without additional authentication or authorization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it directly compromises the confidentiality of administrative credentials and potentially leads to full system compromise. An attacker who gains access to the web management interface can immediately obtain administrative passwords and leverage them to execute privileged operations, modify system configurations, install malicious software, or exfiltrate sensitive data. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where physical security is compromised or where multiple users have access to the same device, as it creates an inherent weakness that can be exploited by anyone with interface access. The risk is amplified when considering that many organizations do not adequately protect their device management interfaces from unauthorized access, making this vulnerability exploitable through various attack paths including credential theft, social engineering, or lateral movement within networks.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including enforcing secure configuration practices that mandate password masking in all web interfaces, disabling browser form caching for credential fields, and implementing additional access controls to limit who can access management interfaces. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-312 (CWE-312: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and CWE-521 (CWE-521: Weak Password Requirements) categories, and represents a clear violation of security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 standards. Security controls should include mandatory password field obfuscation, implementation of secure session management, regular security assessments of web interfaces, and enforcement of strong access controls for management interfaces. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network segmentation, multi-factor authentication for administrative access, and regular monitoring for unauthorized access attempts to minimize the risk of exploitation. The remediation approach must address both the immediate interface-level vulnerability and broader security posture improvements to prevent similar issues from occurring in other components of the device management ecosystem.