Software Engineering Institute

CWE-255: Credentials Management - CVE-2009-5149

The 'password of the day' for multiple models of ARRIS cable modems is generated using a publicly known algorithm. A remote attacker with knowledge of the algorithm, the date, and the seed can gain technician access to the device.

CWE-259: Use of Hard-coded Password - CVE-2015-7289

A separate account with a hard-coded password based on the modem's serial number also exists. A remote attacker with knowledge of the password may be able to gain administrator access to the device.

CWE-80: Improper Neutralization of Script-Related HTML Tags in a Web Page (Basic XSS) - CVE-2015-7290

In the web management interface, the pwd parameter adv_pwd_cgi is vulnerable to reflected cross-site scripting.

CWE-352: Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) - CVE-2015-7291

In the web management interface, adv_pwd_cgi vulnerable to cross-site request forgery attacks. An attacker can perform actions with the same permissions as a victim user, provided the victim has an active session and is induced to trigger the malicious request.

The following models have been reported as being vulnerable to all three vulnerabilities:

• TG862A
• TG862G
• DG860A

• TS0705125D_031115_NA.MODEL_862.GW.MONO
• TS0705125_062314_NA.MODEL_862.GW.MONO
• TS070593C_073013_NA.MODEL_862.GW.MONO
• TS0703128_100611_NA.MODEL_862.GW.MONO
• TS0703135_112211_NA.MODEL_862.GW.MONO

An attacker with access to the web management interface and knowledge of the password-generation algorithm and seed may be able to gain technician or administrative access to devices. A remote attacker may also perform actions with the same permissions of a victim user, or execute arbitrary scripts in the context of the user's browser.

The CERT/CC is currently unaware of a practical solution to this problem.

Change 'password of the day' seed

The 'password of the day' feature seems to use the date and a seed as input to an algorithm that generates the password. The algorithm is publicly known and the date is of course also known. It may be possible to change the seed. An attacker without knowledge of the seed would not be able to generate the password. It is not clear if users or service providers can change the seed. It may be possible for an attacker with access to the web management interface to obtain the router's configuration, including the seed and other passwords. The seed can be set and possibly read via SNMP.

Disable insecure remote administration

Service providers should disable insecure remote administration features such as telnet, or at a minimum, limit access to more trusted management host and networks.