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CVE-2016-8717: Moxa Awk 3131a Firmware: Hard-coded credentials or backdoor

CVE-2016-8717 is rated critical with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 and NVD lists Moxa Awk 3131a Firmware as the affected product. Per its scoring, it can be exploited over the network, without authentication, without any user interaction. The scored impact on confidentiality, integrity and availability is the highest available.

Vulnerability description

An exploitable Use of Hard-coded Credentials vulnerability exists in the Moxa AWK-3131A Wireless Access Point running firmware 1.1. The device operating system contains an undocumented, privileged (root) account with hard-coded credentials, giving attackers full control of affected devices.

Severity breakdown

CVSS v3.1 9.8: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

  • Attack vector: Network. Exploitable remotely over the network, with no need for local or physical access.
  • Attack complexity: Low. No special conditions; the attack can be repeated reliably.
  • Privileges required: None. No account or prior access is needed.
  • User interaction: None. No action from any user is needed.
  • Scope: Unchanged. Impact stays within the vulnerable component.
  • Confidentiality impact: High. Total loss of confidentiality; sensitive data can be fully disclosed.
  • Integrity impact: High. Total loss of integrity; data or system state can be fully modified.
  • Availability impact: High. Total loss of availability; the component can be shut down.

Underlying weakness

CWE-798: Use of Hard-coded Credentials

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

Affected products

  • Moxa Awk 3131a Firmware: 1.1

References