CWE-1392: Use of Default Credentials
Description
The product uses default credentials (such as passwords or cryptographic keys) for potentially critical functionality.
It is common practice for products to be designed to use default keys, passwords, or other mechanisms for authentication. The rationale is to simplify the manufacturing process or the system administrator's task of installation and deployment into an enterprise. However, if admins do not change the defaults, it is easier for attackers to bypass authentication quickly across multiple organizations.
- Abstraction
- BaseA weakness specific enough to point to detection and prevention methods.
- Likelihood of exploit
- Not rated by MITRE
- Status
- Incomplete
Common consequences
- Authentication
Gain Privileges or Assume Identity
Potential mitigations
- RequirementsEffectiveness: High
Prohibit use of default, hard-coded, or other values that do not vary for each installation of the product - especially for separate organizations.
- Architecture and DesignEffectiveness: High
Force the administrator to change the credential upon installation.
- InstallationOperationEffectiveness: Moderate
The product administrator could change the defaults upon installation or during operation.
Related weaknesses
Parent weaknesses
CAPEC attack patterns that exploit it
CWE 4.20 links no CAPEC attack pattern to this weakness.