How to remediate – Bay Networks Accelar 1200 Switch Default Password (password) f…

1. Introduction

The Bay Networks Accelar 1200 Switch Default Password vulnerability allows remote access to the device using default credentials. This means an attacker could gain full administrative control of the switch, potentially compromising network security and data confidentiality. Systems affected are typically Bay Networks Accelar 1200 Switches that have not had their default passwords changed. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity is medium, and availability is medium.

2. Technical Explanation

The vulnerability occurs because the switch ships with a known default password which has not been altered by administrators. An attacker can use this default password to log in remotely via Telnet and gain administrative access. CVE-1999-0508 describes this issue. A simple example is an attacker using a standard Telnet client to connect to the switch’s IP address with the default username and password. Affected platforms are Bay Networks Accelar 1200 Switches running default configurations.

• Root cause: Use of weak, hardcoded default credentials.
• Exploit mechanism: An attacker uses Telnet to connect to the switch using the default username and password.
• Scope: Bay Networks Accelar 1200 Switch devices with default configurations.

3. Detection and Assessment

To confirm vulnerability, check if the device is accessible via Telnet with default credentials. A quick check involves attempting to connect using a standard Telnet client. Thorough assessment can be done by scanning for open port 23 (Telnet) on the switch’s IP address.

• Quick checks: Attempt a Telnet connection to the device’s IP address with default credentials.
• Scanning: Nessus ID 35874295 can detect this vulnerability, but results should be verified manually.
• Logs and evidence: Check switch logs for successful login attempts from unknown sources using default credentials.

telnet <switch_ip_address>

4. Solution / Remediation Steps

To fix the issue, change the default password on the Bay Networks Accelar 1200 Switch. Follow these steps to ensure a secure configuration.

4.1 Preparation

• No services need to be stopped, but access should be limited during the password change. A roll back plan is to restore the backed-up configuration if needed.
• A standard change window may be required depending on your organization’s policies. Approval from a network administrator is recommended.

4.2 Implementation

1. Step 1: Telnet to the device using existing credentials (if possible) or default credentials if no other access exists.
2. Step 2: Enter configuration mode by typing ‘enable’ and providing the enable password (if set).
3. Step 3: Change the password using the ‘password’ command, followed by the new password twice. For example: password <new_password>
4. Step 4: Save the configuration using the ‘write memory’ or equivalent command to ensure the changes are persistent.

4.3 Config or Code Example

Before

enable
password <default_password>

After

enable
password <new_strong_password>
password <new_strong_password>
write memory

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. A regular patch cadence ensures vulnerabilities are addressed promptly.

• Practice 1: Implement least privilege to limit access rights and reduce potential damage from a compromised account.
• Practice 2: Enforce strong password policies, including complexity requirements and regular changes.

4.5 Automation (Optional)

Automation is not recommended for this specific vulnerability due to the risk of locking yourself out of the device. Manual configuration change is preferred.

5. Verification / Validation

• Post-fix check: Attempt a Telnet connection using the old (default) password – access should be denied.
• Re-test: Re-run the quick check from Section 3; default credentials should no longer grant access.
• Smoke test: Verify basic network connectivity by pinging devices on the network.

telnet <switch_ip_address>

6. Preventive Measures and Monitoring

Update security baselines to include a requirement for changing default passwords on all new network devices. Implement CI/CD pipelines with checks for known default credentials in configuration files. Establish a regular patch or config review cycle to identify and address vulnerabilities promptly.

• Baselines: Update your security baseline to require immediate password changes on all new network devices.
• Asset and patch process: Review device configurations regularly (e.g., quarterly) to ensure passwords have been changed.

7. Risks, Side Effects, and Roll Back

• Risk or side effect 1: Incorrect password entry may result in loss of remote access.
• Roll back: Restore the previously backed up switch configuration using the console port.

8. References and Resources

• Vendor advisory or bulletin: No specific vendor advisory available for this default password issue.
• NVD or CVE entry: CVE-1999-0508
• Product or platform documentation relevant to the fix: Bay Networks Accelar 1200 Switch Configuration Guide.