CWE WEAKNESSES  /  CWE-1391

CWE-1391

Use of Weak Credentials

What it is

The product uses weak credentials (such as a default key or hard-coded password) that can be calculated, derived, reused, or guessed by an attacker.

By design, authentication protocols try to ensure that attackers must perform brute force attacks if they do not know the credentials such as a key or password. However, when these credentials are easily predictable or even fixed (as with default or hard-coded passwords and keys), then the attacker can defeat the mechanism without relying on brute force.Credentials may be weak for different reasons, such as:- Hard-coded (i.e., static and unchangeable by the administrator)- Default (i.e., the same static value across different deployments/installations, but able to be changed by the administrator)- Predictable (i.e., generated in a way that produces unique credentials across deployments/installations, but can still be guessed with reasonable efficiency)- Previously Compromised (i.e., "leaked" credentials that were published as part of a data breach)Even if a new, uni

Impact

Mitigations

• [Architecture and Design, Operation] When the user changes or sets a password, check the password against a database of already compromised or breached passwords. These passwords are likely to be used in password guessing attacks.

Real-world CVE examples

• CVE-2022-30270 — Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) uses default credentials for some SSH accounts
• CVE-2022-29965 — Distributed Control System (DCS) uses a deterministic algorithm to generate utility passwords
• CVE-2022-30271 — Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) uses a hard-coded SSH private key that is likely to be used in typical deployments
• CVE-2021-38759 — microcontroller board has default password, allowing admin access
• CVE-2021-41192 — data visualization/sharing package uses default secret keys or cookie values if they are not specified in environment variables
• CVE-2020-8994 — UART interface for AI speaker uses empty password for root shell
• CVE-2020-27020 — password manager does not generate cryptographically strong passwords, allowing prediction of passwords using guessable details such as time of generation
• CVE-2020-8632 — password generator for cloud application has small length value, making it easier for brute-force guessing
• CVE-2020-5365 — network-attached storage (NAS) system has predictable default passwords for a diagnostics/support account
• CVE-2020-5248 — IT asset management app has a default encryption key that is the same across installations
• CVE-2018-3825 — cloud cluster management product has a default master encryption key
• CVE-2012-3503 — Installation script has a hard-coded secret token value, allowing attackers to bypass authentication

Related weaknesses

Source: MITRE CWE. View on cwe.mitre.org →