KL-001-2021-004: CommScope Ruckus IoT Controller Hard-coded Web Application Administrator Password

Title: CommScope Ruckus IoT Controller Hard-coded Web Application Administrator Password
Advisory ID: KL-001-2021-004
Publication Date: 2021.05.26
Publication URL: https://korelogic.com/Resources/Advisories/KL-001-2021-004.txt


1. Vulnerability Details

     Affected Vendor: CommScope
     Affected Product: Ruckus IoT Controller
     Affected Version: 1.7.1.0 and earlier
     Platform: Linux
     CWE Classification: CWE-259: Use of Hard-coded Password
     CVE ID: CVE-2021-33219


2. Vulnerability Description

     An undocumented, administrative-level, hard coded web
     application account exists in the IoT Controller OVA which
     cannot be changed by the customer.


3. Technical Description

     Ruckus vRIoT server software is available from the software
     library at: https://support.ruckuswireless.com/software/

     Once the OVA is imported into VirtualBox, a VMDK file is
     created. The VMDK file can be mounted and the directory
     structure and its contents can be perused. The virtual appliance
     contains two web application accounts with passwords stored
     in clear text on the file system. The two accounts are 'admin'
     and 'nplus1user'. The 'admin' account is documented in vendor
     documentation, but the 'nplus1user' account is undocumented.

     The password for 'admin' is documented and can be changed
     by the user. The password for the 'nplus1user' account
     is 'nplus1user'. Both accounts are administrative-level
     accounts. The virtual appliance does not appear to offer a
     mechanism for changing the default password from the vendor
     for the 'nplus1user' account.


4. Mitigation and Remediation Recommendation

     The vendor has released an updated firmware (1.8.0.0) which
     remediates the described vulnerability. Firmware and release
     notes are available at:

     https://www.commscope.com/globalassets/digizuite/917216-faq-security-advisory-id-20210525-v1-0.pdf


5. Credit

     This vulnerability was discovered by Jim Becher (@jimbecher)
     of KoreLogic, Inc.


6. Disclosure Timeline

     2021.03.30 - KoreLogic submits vulnerability details to
                  CommScope.
     2021.03.30 - CommScope acknowledges receipt and the intention
                  to investigate.
     2021.04.06 - CommScope notifies KoreLogic that this issue,
                  along with several others reported by KoreLogic,
                  will require more than the standard 45 business
                  day remediation timeline.
     2021.04.06 - KoreLogic agrees to extend disclosure embargo if
                  necessary.
     2021.04.30 - CommScope informs KoreLogic that remediation for
                  this vulnerability will be available inside of the
                  standard 45 business day timeline. Requests
                  KoreLogic acquire CVE number for this
                  vulnerability.
     2021.05.14 - 30 business days have elapsed since the
                  vulnerability was reported to CommScope.
     2021.05.17 - CommScope notifies KoreLogic that the patched
                  version of the firmware will be available the week
                  of 2021.05.24.
     2021.05.19 - KoreLogic requests CVE from MITRE.
     2021.05.19 - MITRE issues CVE-2021-33219.
     2021.05.25 - CommScope releases firmware 1.8.0.0 and associated
                  advisory.
     2021.05.26 - KoreLogic public disclosure.


7. Proof of Concept

     With the VMDK file mounted at the current working directory:
     $ more ./VRIOT/authServer/app/authapi# more __init__.py
     ...
         try:
             if not Account.objects.count()>0:
                 admin_acc = Account()
                 admin_acc.username = 'admin'
                 admin_acc.first_name = 'Ed'
                 admin_acc.last_name = 'Sy'
                 admin_acc.company = 'Ruckus'
                 admin_acc.email = 'admin@ruckuswireless.com'
                 admin_acc.password = pbkdf2_sha256.hash('admin')
                 admin_acc.send_notification = False
                 admin_acc.save()
                 with open('/var/log/auth_mongo_conn.log','a+') as f:
                     f.write('Admin Account Created Succssfully!')

             admin_acc = Account()
             admin_acc.username = 'nplus1user'
             admin_acc.first_name = 'Ed'
             admin_acc.last_name = 'Sy'
             admin_acc.company = 'Ruckus'
             admin_acc.email = 'nplus1user@ruckuswireless.com'
             admin_acc.password = pbkdf2_sha256.hash('nplus1user')
     ...



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KoreLogic, Inc. and are licensed under a Creative Commons
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