How to remediate – Mura CMS Default Administrator Credentials

1. Introduction

The Mura CMS Default Administrator Credentials vulnerability involves a web application using easily guessable default login details for its administrative interface. This allows an attacker to gain unauthorised access to sensitive functions and data within the Mura CMS installation. Systems running unpatched or misconfigured Mura CMS instances are affected, potentially impacting confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the website and associated data.

2. Technical Explanation

The root cause is the use of a default username (‘admin’) and password (‘admin’) for the Mura Admin account. An attacker can exploit this by simply attempting to log in with these credentials. No special tools or privileges are required, making it easily exploitable remotely.

• Root cause: Use of hardcoded default administrator credentials.
• Exploit mechanism: An attacker attempts login using the ‘admin’ / ‘admin’ combination. Successful authentication grants administrative access. For example, an attacker could use a web browser or a tool like Burp Suite to submit a POST request to the Mura CMS login page with these credentials.
• Scope: All versions of Mura CMS are potentially affected if default credentials have not been changed.

3. Detection and Assessment

• Quick checks: Attempt to log into the Mura Admin panel with username ‘admin’ and password ‘admin’.
• Scanning: Nessus plugin ID 10429 can identify this vulnerability, but results should be manually verified.
• Logs and evidence: Check Mura CMS application logs for successful logins using the ‘admin’ account from unexpected IP addresses or timestamps. Log file locations vary depending on installation; consult Mura documentation.

curl -u admin:admin http://your-mura-cms-instance/admin/login.cfm

4. Solution / Remediation Steps

The following steps provide a precise method to fix the issue by changing the default administrator password. These steps are small, testable and safe to roll back.

4.1 Preparation

• No services need to be stopped for this process.
• A rollback plan involves restoring the database and application files from the pre-change backup if issues arise. A change window is recommended, with approval from the website owner or relevant IT manager.

4.2 Implementation

1. Step 1: Log into the Mura Admin panel using the default credentials (‘admin’ / ‘admin’).
2. Step 2: Select ‘Edit Profile’ from the administration menu.
3. Step 3: Change the password to a strong, unique value.
4. Step 4: Save the changes.

4.3 Config or Code Example

Before

// No direct config file modification is required, but default credentials are used in the database.

After

// The 'admin' user account now has a strong, unique password stored in the Mura CMS database.

4.4 Security Practices Relevant to This Vulnerability

Several security practices directly address this vulnerability type. Least privilege reduces impact if an attacker gains access. Safe defaults prevent common misconfigurations. Regular patch cadence ensures known vulnerabilities are addressed promptly.

• Practice 1: Implement the principle of least privilege, granting only necessary permissions to administrator accounts.
• Practice 2: Enforce strong password policies and regularly review user accounts for unnecessary privileges.

4.5 Automation (Optional)

Automation is not recommended due to the risk of locking out administrative access if incorrectly configured.

// No automation script provided due to potential risks.

5. Verification / Validation

• Post-fix check: Attempt to log into the Mura Admin panel with username ‘admin’ and the *old* password (‘admin’). The login should fail, displaying an invalid credentials error.
• Re-test: Repeat the quick check from Section 3 using the default credentials; it should now fail.
• Smoke test: Verify that you can access public pages of the website and submit a contact form without issue.
• Monitoring: Monitor Mura CMS application logs for failed login attempts with the ‘admin’ username, which could indicate ongoing brute-force attacks.

curl -u admin:admin http://your-mura-cms-instance/admin/login.cfm

6. Preventive Measures and Monitoring

• Baselines: Update your security baseline to require strong, unique passwords for all administrator accounts.
• Asset and patch process: Review Mura CMS configurations regularly (at least quarterly) to ensure compliance with security policies.

7. Risks, Side Effects, and Roll Back

Changing the password could temporarily disrupt access if the new password is forgotten or lost. Ensure you have a documented recovery process in place. Incorrectly configured permissions could also lead to service instability.

• Risk or side effect 1: Loss of administrative access if the new password is forgotten; mitigation involves a documented password reset procedure.
• Roll back: Restore the database and application files from the pre-change backup to revert to the original configuration.

8. References and Resources

• Vendor advisory or bulletin: Mura Security Advisories
• NVD or CVE entry: No specific CVE is currently assigned for this default credential issue, but related vulnerabilities can be found on the NVD website (https://nvd.nist.gov/).
• Product or platform documentation relevant to the fix: Mura CMS Documentation