CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2024-6045NVD status: Deferred

G403: Use of Hard-coded Credentials

CVE-2024-6045 is a high-severity use of hard-coded credentials vulnerability in G403 from D-Link, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 out of 10. It can be exploited from the same local network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version 1.10.01 as the first without the flaw, so updating G403 to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 6.31% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is in the top 6.28% of all scored CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update G403 to 1.10.01 or a later version.
  2. Update G415 to 1.10.01 or a later version.
  3. Update G416 to 1.10.01 or a later version.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
D-LinkG403earlier up to, but not including, 1.10.011.10.01
D-LinkG415earlier up to, but not including, 1.10.011.10.01
D-LinkG416earlier up to, but not including, 1.10.011.10.01
D-LinkM18earlier up to, but not including, 1.10.011.10.01
D-LinkR03earlier up to, but not including, 1.10.011.10.01
D-LinkR04earlier up to, but not including, 1.10.011.10.01
D-LinkR12earlier up to, but not including, 1.10.011.10.01
D-LinkR18earlier up to, but not including, 1.10.011.10.01
D-LinkE30earlier up to, but not including, 1.10.021.10.02
D-LinkM30earlier up to, but not including, 1.10.021.10.02
D-LinkM32earlier up to, but not including, 1.10.021.10.02
D-LinkM60earlier up to, but not including, 1.10.021.10.02
D-LinkR32earlier up to, but not including, 1.10.021.10.02
D-LinkE15earlier up to, but not including, 1.20.011.20.01
D-LinkR15earlier up to, but not including, 1.20.011.20.01
D-Linkg403_firmwarebefore 1.10.011.10.01
D-Linke30_firmwarebefore 1.10.021.10.02
D-Linke15_firmwarebefore 1.20.011.20.01

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
AdjacentThe attacker must be on the same local network segment.
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:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (cert.org.tw).

Official description

Certain models of D-Link wireless routers contain an undisclosed factory testing backdoor. Unauthenticated attackers on the local area network can force the device to enable Telnet service by accessing a specific URL and can log in by using the administrator credentials obtained from analyzing the firmware.

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

Recent Use of Hard-coded Credentials vulnerabilities

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