1. Introduction
OpenMediaVault Default Administrator Credentials refers to a web application using default login details for its administration interface. This is a security risk because anyone knowing these credentials can gain full control of the system. Systems running OpenMediaVault with unchanged default settings are affected, potentially leading to data compromise, service disruption and unauthorized modifications. Confidentiality, integrity, and availability may all be impacted.
2. Technical Explanation
The remote OpenMediaVault installation uses a hardcoded username (‘admin’) and password (‘openmediavault’) for administrative access. An attacker can directly log in to the web interface using these credentials without needing any special privileges or prior knowledge of the system. There is no account lockout mechanism, making brute-force attempts easier.
- Root cause: The OpenMediaVault installation ships with a default administrator account and password that are not changed during setup.
- Exploit mechanism: An attacker simply enters ‘admin’ as the username and ‘openmediavault’ as the password on the login page of the web interface.
- Scope: All versions of OpenMediaVault where the default credentials have not been modified are affected.
3. Detection and Assessment
You can check if a system is vulnerable by attempting to log in with the default credentials or examining the application’s configuration.
- Quick checks: Access the OpenMediaVault web interface and try logging in as ‘admin’ with the password ‘openmediavault’. If successful, the system is vulnerable.
- Scanning: Nessus plugin ID 16398 can detect this vulnerability. Other scanners may have similar checks.
- Logs and evidence: Check application logs for login attempts using the username ‘admin’. The exact log location varies depending on OpenMediaVault configuration but often resides in /var/log/openmediavault/.
# Example command placeholder:
# No specific command is available to directly confirm exposure without attempting a login.
4. Solution / Remediation Steps
Change the default administrator credentials immediately.
4.1 Preparation
- Dependencies: Access to the OpenMediaVault web interface with administrative privileges. A roll back plan involves restoring from backup or re-imaging the system if necessary.
- Change window needs: This should be done during routine maintenance as it requires access to the administration interface and may briefly interrupt service. Approval is not usually required for this basic security step.
4.2 Implementation
- Step 1: Log in to the OpenMediaVault web interface using the default credentials (‘admin’ / ‘openmediavault’).
- Step 2: Navigate to System > General settings > Web administrator password.
- Step 3: Enter a strong, unique new password and confirm it.
- Step 4: Save the changes. You will be prompted to log in again with the new credentials.
4.3 Config or Code Example
Before
# No config file is directly modified, this is done through the web interface. Default credentials are 'admin' / 'openmediavault'.After
# The administrator password has been changed to a strong, unique value via the web interface. 4.4 Security Practices Relevant to This Vulnerability
List only practices that directly address this vulnerability type. Use neutral wording and examples instead of fixed advice. For example: least privilege, input validation, safe defaults, secure headers, patch cadence. If a practice does not apply, do not include it.
- Practice 1: Enforce strong password policies to make default credentials less effective.
- Practice 2: Implement regular security audits and vulnerability scanning to identify systems with default settings.
4.5 Automation (Optional)
# No automation is recommended for this vulnerability due to the need for secure password handling. Manual change via the web interface is preferred.5. Verification / Validation
Confirm that you can no longer log in with the default credentials and that your new credentials work.
- Post-fix check: Attempt to log in using ‘admin’ as the username and ‘openmediavault’ as the password. You should receive an invalid login error.
- Re-test: Repeat the quick check from Section 3. Login attempts with default credentials should fail.
- Monitoring: Check application logs for failed login attempts using ‘admin’. An increase in these failures could indicate brute-force attacks.
# Post-fix command and expected output:
# Attempting to log in as admin/openmediavault should result in an "Invalid username or password" error message.6. Preventive Measures and Monitoring
Suggest only measures that are relevant to the vulnerability type. Use “for example” to keep advice conditional, not prescriptive.
- Baselines: Update your security baseline to include a requirement for changing default credentials on all new systems.
- Asset and patch process: Review the configuration of OpenMediaVault instances regularly as part of your asset management process.
7. Risks, Side Effects, and Roll Back
- Risk or side effect 1: Forgetting the new password can lock you out of the system. Store passwords securely.
- Risk or side effect 2: Incorrectly configured access controls could prevent legitimate users from accessing the interface. Test changes thoroughly.
- Roll back: Restore your OpenMediaVault configuration from backup if necessary. If no backup exists, re-imaging may be required.
8. References and Resources
- Vendor advisory or bulletin: http://www.openmediavault.org/faq.html