Quantum Secular Labs / Blog / Advisories

CVE-2017-8837: Cleartext password storage exists on Peplink Balance 305, 380, 580, 710, 1350, and 2500 devices with…

CVE-2017-8837 is rated critical with a CVSS v3.0 base score of 9.8 and NVD lists 6 affected products, including Peplink B305hw2 Firmware. 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

Cleartext password storage exists on Peplink Balance 305, 380, 580, 710, 1350, and 2500 devices with firmware before fw-b305hw2_380hw6_580hw2_710hw3_1350hw2_2500-7.0.1-build2093. The files in question are /etc/waipass and /etc/roapass. In case one of these devices is compromised, the attacker can gain access to passwords and abuse them to compromise further systems.

Severity breakdown

CVSS v3.0 9.8: CVSS:3.0/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-522: Insufficiently Protected Credentials

The product transmits or stores authentication credentials, but it uses an insecure method that is susceptible to unauthorized interception and/or retrieval.

Affected products

  • Peplink B305hw2 Firmware: 7.0.1
  • Peplink 380hw6 Firmware: 7.0.1
  • Peplink 580hw2 Firmware: 7.0.1
  • Peplink 710hw3 Firmware: 7.0.1
  • Peplink 1350hw2 Firmware: 7.0.1
  • Peplink 2500 Firmware: 7.0.1

References