1. Introduction
Artica Default Credentials allows unauthenticated access to the Artica web application management console using pre-defined usernames and passwords. This poses a significant risk as attackers can gain full control of the system, potentially leading to data breaches, service disruption, or further compromise of the network. Systems running Artica proxy and firewall software are typically affected. A successful exploit could lead to complete confidentiality, integrity, and availability loss.
2. Technical Explanation
The vulnerability stems from the use of hardcoded default credentials for accessing the Artica web management console. Attackers can bypass authentication by using these known usernames and passwords. There is no CVE associated with this specific issue but it falls under CWE-798 (Use of Hard-coded Credentials). An attacker could simply navigate to the Artica web interface and attempt to log in with default credentials like username ‘admin’ and password ‘admin’. Affected versions include those shipped with default settings, particularly during initial deployment or if passwords have not been changed.
- Root cause: Use of hardcoded default credentials for administrative access.
- Exploit mechanism: An attacker attempts to log in using the default username and password combination.
- Scope: Artica proxy and firewall software, versions with default credentials enabled.
3. Detection and Assessment
You can confirm vulnerability by attempting a login with default credentials. A quick check involves accessing the web interface and trying common usernames/passwords. For thorough assessment, you can use network scanning tools to identify open Artica ports and then attempt credentialed access.
- Quick checks: Access the Artica web interface (typically on port 80 or 443) and try logging in with username ‘admin’ and password ‘admin’.
- Scanning: Nessus plugin ID 16579 can identify systems vulnerable to default credentials. This is an example only.
- Logs and evidence: Check Artica logs for successful login attempts using the default ‘admin’ account. Log files are typically located in /var/log/artica/.
# Example command placeholder:
# Access the web interface via a browser and attempt to log in with default credentials.
4. Solution / Remediation Steps
The solution involves changing the default password for the Artica administrative account. Follow these steps to secure your system.
4.1 Preparation
- Ensure you have alternative access methods in case of issues (e.g., SSH). A roll back plan involves restoring the backed-up configuration file.
- A change window may be needed if this impacts production systems, and approval from system owners should be obtained.
4.2 Implementation
- Step 1: Log in to the Artica web management console using default credentials (if possible).
- Step 2: Navigate to ‘Users’ or ‘Account Management’.
- Step 3: Locate the ‘admin’ account and select ‘Edit’.
- Step 4: Change the password for the ‘admin’ account to a strong, unique value.
- Step 5: Save the changes and log out of the console.
4.3 Config or Code Example
Before
# Default configuration (example - may vary)
username = admin
password = admin
After
# Secure configuration (example - may vary)
username = admin
password = YourStrongPasswordHere
4.4 Security Practices Relevant to This Vulnerability
Several security practices can help prevent this issue. Least privilege reduces the impact if an account is compromised. Safe defaults ensure systems are not shipped with easily guessable credentials. Regular password changes improve overall security posture.
- Practice 1: Implement least privilege to limit the damage caused by a compromised account.
- Practice 2: Enforce strong password policies and regular password rotations.
4.5 Automation (Optional)
# No automation script available due to the need for manual password changes within the Artica web interface.
5. Verification / Validation
- Post-fix check: Attempt to log in to the Artica web interface with username ‘admin’ and the *old* default password. The login attempt should fail.
- Re-test: Repeat the quick check from Section 3, attempting to log in with default credentials; it should now be unsuccessful.
- Monitoring: Monitor Artica logs for failed login attempts using the ‘admin’ account to detect potential brute-force attacks.
# Post-fix command and expected output:
# Attempting to log in with default credentials should result in an "Invalid username or password" error message.
6. Preventive Measures and Monitoring
Update security baselines to include a requirement for changing default passwords during initial system setup. Implement CI/CD pipeline checks to ensure that default credentials are not present in configuration files. Regular patch reviews can identify systems with known vulnerabilities like this one.
- Baselines: Update your security baseline or policy to require strong password policies and the immediate changing of default passwords on all new systems.
- Asset and patch process: Implement a regular patch review cycle to identify and address known vulnerabilities like this one promptly.
7. Risks, Side Effects, and Roll Back
- Risk or side effect 1: Incorrect password entry may result in account lockout.
- Risk or side effect 2: Changes could impact integrations relying on specific Artica configurations.
- Roll back: Restore the backed-up Artica configuration file to revert to the previous state.
8. References and Resources
- Vendor advisory or bulletin: http://www.artica.fr/