Cisco Device Default Password

critical Nessus Plugin ID 23938

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Synopsis

The remote device has a default factory password set.

Description

The remote Cisco router has a default password set. A remote, unauthenticated attacker can exploit this to gain administrative access.

Note: To avoid account lockouts and other adverse impacts on the target host, this plugin will only attempt up to three login combinations per host under default policy configurations. To test with additional login combinations, users will need to either disable 'Safe Checks' in their scan policy or use a PCI scan policy.

Be aware that disabling 'Safe Checks' can result in adverse impacts on target devices, so be sure to use discretion when disabling this option.

Solution

Change the Cisco device default password via the command 'enable secret'.

Plugin Details

Severity: Critical

ID: 23938

File Name: cisco_default_pw.nasl

Version: 1.51

Type: remote

Family: CISCO

Published: 12/23/2006

Updated: 11/1/2024

Supported Sensors: Nessus

Risk Information

CVSS Score Rationale: Av:n is justified since the plugin tries to login via ssh or telnet. while the nvd score implies the the device is only accessible locally, that's not explicitly specified in the cve description: an account on a router, firewall, or other network device has a default, null, blank, or missing password. it is a reasonable assumption that if the plugin can log in with one of the sets of credentials attempted in the plugin, it can own the device (hence cia complete instead of partial).

VPR

Risk Factor: Medium

Score: 5.9

CVSS v2

Risk Factor: Critical

Base Score: 10

Temporal Score: 7.7

Vector: CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

CVSS Score Source: CVE-1999-0508

CVSS v3

Risk Factor: Critical

Base Score: 9.8

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Vulnerability Information

CPE: cpe:/o:cisco

Excluded KB Items: global_settings/supplied_logins_only

Exploit Ease: No exploit is required

Vulnerability Publication Date: 1/1/1999

Reference Information

CVE: CVE-1999-0508

Detections

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