CWE-1393

Use of Default Password

Base

Incomplete

Description

The product uses default passwords for potentially critical functionality.

It is common practice for products to be designed to use default passwords for authentication. The rationale is to simplify the manufacturing process or the system administrator's task of installation and deployment into an enterprise. However, if admins do not change the defaults, then it makes it easier for attackers to quickly bypass authentication across multiple organizations. There are many lists of default passwords and default-password scanning tools that are easily available from the World Wide Web.

Parent Weaknesses (ChildOf)

CWE-1392: Use of Default Credentials...

Common Consequences

Scope

Authentication

Impact

Gain Privileges or Assume Identity

Potential Mitigations

Requirements

Prohibit use of default, hard-coded, or other values that do not vary for each installation of the product - especially for separate organizations.

Documentation

Ensure that product documentation clearly emphasizes the presence of default passwords and provides steps for the administrator to change them.

Architecture and Design

Force the administrator to change the credential upon installation.

Installation

Operation

The product administrator could change the defaults upon installation or during operation.

CVE-2022-30270

Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) uses default credentials for some SSH accounts

CVE-2022-2336

OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA) industrial automation product has a default password

CVE-2021-38759

microcontroller board has default password, allowing admin access

CVE-2021-44480

children's smart watch has default passwords allowing attackers to send SMS commands and listen to the device's surroundings

CVE-2020-11624

surveillance camera has default password for the admin account

CVE-2018-15719

medical dental records product installs a MySQL database with a blank default password

CVE-2014-9736

healthcare system for archiving patient images has default passwords for key management and storage databases

CVE-2000-1209

database product installs admin account with default null password, allowing privileges, as exploited by various worms

Applicable Platforms

Not Language-Specific

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