How to remediate – Centreon Default Administrator Password

1. Introduction

The Centreon Default Administrator Password vulnerability refers to the use of default credentials (‘admin’ / ‘centreon’) for accessing the management interface of a Centreon installation. This poses a significant risk as attackers can exploit this issue to gain full administrative control over the application, potentially leading to data breaches, system compromise, and service disruption. Systems affected are typically those running the Centreon web application with default configurations. A successful attack could result in complete confidentiality loss, integrity compromise, and availability impact.

2. Technical Explanation

The vulnerability stems from a weak security practice – shipping software with easily guessable default credentials. Attackers can remotely access the Centreon web interface using these known credentials without authentication challenges. There is no CVE associated with this specific issue, but it falls under CWE-798 (Use of Hard-coded Credentials). An attacker could simply browse to the Centreon installation URL and attempt to log in with ‘admin’ as the username and ‘centreon’ as the password. Affected versions include all installations using default credentials.

• Root cause: Use of default administrative credentials (‘admin’ / ‘centreon’).
• Exploit mechanism: An attacker attempts login with default credentials via the web interface.
• Scope: Centreon installations using default credentials, across all supported platforms and versions.

3. Detection and Assessment

You can confirm vulnerability by attempting to log in with the default credentials. A thorough assessment involves checking configurations and access logs for unauthorized login attempts.

• Quick checks: Attempt to log into the Centreon web interface using username ‘admin’ and password ‘centreon’.
• Scanning: Nessus plugin ID 16284 (Centreon Default Credentials) can identify this vulnerability, but results should be verified.

# No command available as the check is performed via web interface login attempt.

4. Solution / Remediation Steps

The solution involves changing the default administrative credentials immediately. Follow these steps to secure your Centreon installation.

4.1 Preparation

• No services need to be stopped for this process.
• A roll back plan involves restoring the backed-up configuration if issues arise during the credential change.

4.2 Implementation

1. Step 1: Log into the Centreon web interface using the default credentials (‘admin’ / ‘centreon’).
2. Step 2: Navigate to Administration > Users > User Profiles.
3. Step 3: Select the ‘admin’ profile and click on ‘Edit’.
4. Step 4: Change the password for the ‘admin’ user to a strong, unique password.
5. Step 5: Save the changes.

4.3 Config or Code Example

Before

Username: admin
Password: centreon

After

Username: admin
Password: [Strong, unique password]

4.4 Security Practices Relevant to This Vulnerability

Several security practices can help prevent this type of vulnerability. These include using strong passwords, enforcing regular password changes, and implementing the principle of least privilege. Safe defaults are also critical; software should not ship with easily guessable credentials.

• Practice 1: Least privilege – limit user access to only what is necessary.
• Practice 2: Strong passwords – enforce complex password policies for all accounts.

4.5 Automation (Optional)

Automation of this process is not generally recommended due to the risk of locking yourself out if misconfigured. Manual changes are preferred in this case.

5. Verification / Validation

Verify that you can no longer log into Centreon using the default credentials. Confirm successful login with the new password and test key system functionalities.

• Post-fix check: Attempt to log into the Centreon web interface using username ‘admin’ and the *old* password (‘centreon’). The login should fail.
• Re-test: Repeat the quick check from Section 3, confirming that login with default credentials is no longer possible.
• Monitoring: Monitor application logs for failed login attempts using the default username; any such attempt should be investigated.

# No command available as the check is performed via web interface login attempt.

6. Preventive Measures and Monitoring

Regular security audits, baseline configurations, and secure development practices can prevent similar vulnerabilities. For example, implement a CIS control that mandates strong default credentials or password policies.

• Baselines: Update your Centreon security baseline to include a requirement for changing default passwords during initial setup.
• Asset and patch process: Review configuration changes regularly to ensure compliance with security policies.

7. Risks, Side Effects, and Roll Back

Changing the password incorrectly could lock you out of the system. Ensure you have a backup of your configuration. If locked out, restore from the backup.

• Risk or side effect 1: Incorrect password entry can lead to account lockout.
• Roll back: Restore the Centreon configuration from the pre-change backup.

8. References and Resources

Links only to sources that match this exact vulnerability. Use official advisories and trusted documentation. Do not include generic links.

• Vendor advisory or bulletin: Centreon User Management Documentation
• NVD or CVE entry: No specific CVE is associated with this issue, but it relates to CWE-798.