CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2022-34441NVD status: Modified

Secure Connect Gateway (SCG) Policy Manager: Use of Hard-coded Credentials

CVE-2022-34441 is a critical-severity use of hard-coded credentials vulnerability in Secure Connect Gateway (SCG) Policy Manager from Dell, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version 5.14 as the first without the flaw, so updating Secure Connect Gateway (SCG) Policy Manager to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.5% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Patch this week

Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.

What to do

  1. Update Secure Connect Gateway (SCG) Policy Manager to 5.14 or a later version.
  2. Update Policy Manager For Secure Connect Gateway to 5.14.00.00 or a later version.
  3. Read the advisory on dell.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
  4. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
DellSecure Connect Gateway (SCG) Policy Manager5.10 up to, but not including, 5.145.14
DellPolicy Manager For Secure Connect Gateway5.10.00.00 up to, but not including, 5.14.00.005.14.00.00

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
NoneNo account or login is needed.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.18.0HighCNA (emc.com)
CVSS 3.19.8CriticalNVD

Official description

Dell EMC SCG Policy Manager, versions from 5.10 to 5.12, contain(s) a contain a Hard-coded Cryptographic Key vulnerability. An attacker with the knowledge of the hard-coded sensitive information, could potentially exploit this vulnerability to login to the system to gain admin privileges.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Use of Hard-coded Credentials

The product contains hard-coded credentials, such as a password or cryptographic key.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • For outbound authentication: store passwords, keys, and other credentials outside of the code in a strongly-protected, encrypted configuration file or database that is protected from access by all outsiders, including other local users on the same system. Properly protect the key (CWE-320). If you cannot use encryption to protect the file, then make sure that the permissions are as restrictive as possible. In Windows environments, the Encrypted File System (EFS) may provide some protection.
  • For inbound authentication: Rather than hard-code a default username and password, key, or other authentication credentials for first time logins, utilize a first login mode that requires the user to enter a unique strong password or key.
  • If the product must contain hard-coded credentials or they cannot be removed, perform access control checks and limit which entities can access the feature that requires the hard-coded credentials. For example, a feature might only be enabled through the system console instead of through a network connection.

More Use of Hard-coded Credentials vulnerabilities (CWE-798)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in Secure Connect Gateway (SCG) Policy Manager

All Secure Connect Gateway (SCG) Policy Manager vulnerabilities

Recent Use of Hard-coded Credentials vulnerabilities

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