-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA256 Cisco Security Advisory: Default Credentials for root Account on the Cisco Media Experience Engine 5600 Advisory ID: cisco-sa-20110601-mxe Revision 1.0 For Public Release 2011 June 01 1600 UTC (GMT) +--------------------------------------------------------------------- Summary ======= Cisco Media Experience Engine (MXE) 5600 devices that are running Cisco Media Processing Software releases prior to 1.2 ship with a root administrator account that is enabled by default with a default password. An unauthorized user could use this account to modify the software configuration and operating system settings or gain complete administrative control of the device. A software upgrade is not required to resolve this vulnerability. Customers can change the root account password by issuing a configuration command on affected engines. The workarounds detailed in this document provide instructions for changing the root account password. This advisory is posted at: http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/707/cisco-sa-20110601-mxe.shtml Affected Products ================= Vulnerable Products +------------------ This vulnerability affects Cisco MXE 5600 units that are running Cisco Media Processing Software releases prior to 1.2. To determine the software release that is running on a Cisco MXE unit, log in to the device and issue the show version command-line interface (CLI) command to display the system banner. The following example shows a Cisco MXE 5600 device running software version 1.2.0-34. mxe# show version ------------------------------------------------------------ Cisco MXE-5600 Software Versions ------------------------------------------------------------ MXE-OS 1.2.0-34 MXE-MEDIA-O 1.2.0-34 ------------------------------------------------------------ Products Confirmed Not Vulnerable +-------------------------------- The Cisco MXE 3000 Series Media Experience Engines are not affected by this advisory. No other Cisco products are currently known to be affected by this vulnerability. Details ======= The Cisco Media Experience Engine (MXE) 5600 is a modular media-processing platform that provides advanced media-processing and media-transformation services. The Cisco MXE 5600 contains a root user that is enabled for advanced debugging but is unnecessary during normal operations. The root account is not the same as the admin and user accounts. The root account is enabled by default in Cisco Media Processing Software releases prior to 1.2 and is accessible via the local console and SSH. It may also be accessible via Telnet if Telnet is enabled. Telnet is not enabled by default. Cisco Media Processing Software releases prior to 1.2 install with a default password for the root user. Cisco Media Processing Software release 1.2 requires an administrator to choose a root password during installation. The root account cannot be accessed until this step is complete. In future software releases, the root account will be disabled by default as mentioned in Cisco bug ID CSCto81037. For instructions on how to set or change the root password, see the Workarounds section of this advisory. This vulnerability is documented in the Cisco bug ID CSCto77737 and has been assigned the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) ID CVE-2011-1623. Vulnerability Scoring Details ============================= Cisco has provided scores for the vulnerabilities in this advisory based on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS). The CVSS scoring in this Security Advisory is done in accordance with CVSS version 2.0. CVSS is a standards-based scoring method that conveys vulnerability severity and helps determine urgency and priority of response. Cisco has provided a base and temporal score. Customers can then compute environmental scores to assist in determining the impact of the vulnerability in individual networks. Cisco has provided an FAQ to answer additional questions regarding CVSS at: http://www.cisco.com/web/about/security/intelligence/cvss-qandas.html Cisco has also provided a CVSS calculator to help compute the environmental impact for individual networks at: http://intellishield.cisco.com/security/alertmanager/cvss * CSCto77737 ("Default Credentials for root Account on MXE 5600") CVSS Base Score - 10.0 Access Vector - Network Access Complexity - Low Authentication - None Confidentiality Impact - Complete Integrity Impact - Complete Availability Impact - Complete CVSS Temporal Score - 8.3 Exploitability - Functional Remediation Level - Official-Fix Report Confidence - Confirmed Impact ====== Successful exploitation of the vulnerability may allow an unauthorized user to modify the software configuration and the operating system settings or gain complete administrative control of the device. Software Versions and Fixes =========================== When considering software upgrades, also consult http://www.cisco.com/go/psirt and any subsequent advisories to determine exposure and a complete upgrade solution. In all cases, customers should exercise caution to be certain the devices to be upgraded contain sufficient memory and that current hardware and software configurations will continue to be supported properly by the new release. If the information is not clear, contact the Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) or your contracted maintenance provider for assistance. Cisco Media Processing Software for the Cisco MXE 5600 is available for download at: http://www.cisco.com/cisco/software/navigator.html?mdfid=282790320&i=rm Workarounds =========== In Cisco Media Processing Software releases prior to 1.2, the root account is enabled by default with a default password, but the root user can change the password at any time by issuing the passwd command. The passwd command will accept a null or weak password, but Cisco highly recommends using a long, complex password. To change the password, users will need the default password. To obtain the default password, customers must contact the Cisco TAC. Because entitlement will be verified, please have the product serial number available and refer to this advisory. Cisco Media Processing Software Release 1.2 requires the administrator to choose a root password during installation, and the root account cannot be accessed until this step is complete. In Cisco Media Processing Software Release 1.2, the root password can be changed at any other time using the expert password command while logged in as admin. The expert password command is a new feature mentioned in Cisco bug ID CSCto77737 and integrated in Cisco Media Processing Software Release 1.2. In future software releases, the root account will be disabled by default as mentioned in Cisco bug ID CSCto81037. Additional mitigations that can be deployed on Cisco devices within the network are available in the Cisco Applied Intelligence companion document for this advisory: http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/707/cisco-amb-20110601-mxe.shtml Obtaining Fixed Software ======================== Prior to deploying software, customers should consult their maintenance provider or check the software for feature set compatibility and known issues specific to their environment. Customers may only install and expect support for the feature sets they have purchased. By installing, downloading, accessing or otherwise using such software upgrades, customers agree to be bound by the terms of Cisco's software license terms found at http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/general/warranty/English/EU1KEN_.html, or as otherwise set forth at Cisco.com Downloads at http://www.cisco.com/public/sw-center/sw-usingswc.shtml. Do not contact psirt@cisco.com or security-alert@cisco.com for software upgrades. Customers with Service Contracts +------------------------------- Customers with contracts should obtain upgraded software through their regular update channels. For most customers, this means that upgrades should be obtained through the Software Center on Cisco's worldwide website at http://www.cisco.com. Customers using Third Party Support Organizations +------------------------------------------------ Customers whose Cisco products are provided or maintained through prior or existing agreements with third-party support organizations, such as Cisco Partners, authorized resellers, or service providers should contact that support organization for guidance and assistance with the appropriate course of action in regards to this advisory. The effectiveness of any workaround or fix is dependent on specific customer situations, such as product mix, network topology, traffic behavior, and organizational mission. Due to the variety of affected products and releases, customers should consult with their service provider or support organization to ensure any applied workaround or fix is the most appropriate for use in the intended network before it is deployed. Customers without Service Contracts +---------------------------------- Cisco will not make free upgrade software available for affected customers to address this vulnerability. The workaround provided in this document describes how to change the passwords in current releases of the software. Exploitation and Public Announcements ===================================== The Cisco PSIRT is not aware of any public announcements or malicious use of the vulnerability described in this advisory. This vulnerability was discovered during internal testing. Status of this Notice: FINAL ============================ THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" BASIS AND DOES NOT IMPLY ANY KIND OF GUARANTEE OR WARRANTY, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR USE. YOUR USE OF THE INFORMATION ON THE DOCUMENT OR MATERIALS LINKED FROM THE DOCUMENT IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. CISCO RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE OR UPDATE THIS DOCUMENT AT ANY TIME. A stand-alone copy or Paraphrase of the text of this document that omits the distribution URL in the following section is an uncontrolled copy, and may lack important information or contain factual errors. Distribution ============ This advisory is posted on Cisco's worldwide website at: http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/707/cisco-sa-20110601-mxe.shtml In addition to worldwide web posting, a text version of this notice is clear-signed with the Cisco PSIRT PGP key and is posted to the following e-mail and Usenet news recipients. * cust-security-announce@cisco.com * first-bulletins@lists.first.org * bugtraq@securityfocus.com * vulnwatch@vulnwatch.org * cisco@spot.colorado.edu * cisco-nsp@puck.nether.net * full-disclosure@lists.grok.org.uk * comp.dcom.sys.cisco@newsgate.cisco.com Future updates of this advisory, if any, will be placed on Cisco's worldwide website, but may or may not be actively announced on mailing lists or newsgroups. Users concerned about this problem are encouraged to check the above URL for any updates. Revision History ================ +-----------------------------------------------------------+ | Revision 1.0 | 2011-June-01 | Initial public release | +-----------------------------------------------------------+ Cisco Security Procedures ========================= Complete information on reporting security vulnerabilities in Cisco products, obtaining assistance with security incidents, and registering to receive security information from Cisco, is available on Cisco's worldwide website at http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/products_security_vulnerability_policy.html. This includes instructions for press inquiries regarding Cisco security notices. All Cisco security advisories are available at http://www.cisco.com/go/psirt. +-------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2010-2011 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. +-------------------------------------------------------------------- Updated: Jun 01, 2011 Document ID: 112959 -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.10 (GNU/Linux) iF4EAREIAAYFAk3mYakACgkQQXnnBKKRMNDuBwD+J7cpkJXFQe5C/IHvYzNejxCB UKzuwdqr8OD+DczVMcgA/2M/3DlTswtrsh8jTgT8ChkE0TwnNf1uSOcW4g/blNlR =VGLK -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----