CWE-1393: Use of Default Password
Description
The product uses default passwords for potentially critical functionality.
It is common practice for products to be designed to use default passwords 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, then it makes it easier for attackers to quickly bypass authentication across multiple organizations. There are many lists of default passwords and default-password scanning tools that are easily available from the World Wide Web.
- 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.
- DocumentationEffectiveness: Limited
Ensure that product documentation clearly emphasizes the presence of default passwords and provides steps for the administrator to change them.
- 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.