How to remediate – Unpassworded ‘OutOfBox’ Account

1. Introduction

The ‘OutOfBox’ account vulnerability refers to a system account that has no password set. This means anyone with access to the network could potentially log in as this account and gain control of the system. Systems commonly affected are those running default configurations, particularly servers or virtual machines deployed from images. A successful exploit could compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the host.

2. Technical Explanation

The ‘OutOfBox’ account lacks a password due to an insecure default configuration during system deployment or image creation. An attacker can attempt to log in remotely without providing credentials. CVE-1999-0502 details this vulnerability. For example, an attacker on the same network could use tools like Nmap with scripting capabilities to brute force login attempts against the ‘OutOfBox’ account.

• Root cause: The default configuration does not enforce a password for the ‘OutOfBox’ account.
• Exploit mechanism: An attacker attempts to authenticate using the ‘OutOfBox’ username without a password.
• Scope: Affected platforms are those where the ‘OutOfBox’ account exists by default, typically Windows systems and virtual machine images.

3. Detection and Assessment

You can confirm this vulnerability by checking if a password is set for the account or attempting to log in without credentials.

• Quick checks: Use the ‘net user OutOfBox’ command in Command Prompt to check account properties. If the “Password Not Required” flag is present, it’s vulnerable.
• Scanning: Nessus plugin ID 10275 can detect unpassworded accounts. This is an example only and may require updating.
• Logs and evidence: Check Windows Security Event Logs for failed login attempts against the ‘OutOfBox’ account with no password provided (Event ID 4625).

net user OutOfBox

4. Solution / Remediation Steps

To fix this issue, set a strong password for the ‘OutOfBox’ account or disable it entirely.

4.1 Preparation

• Dependencies: Ensure you have administrator privileges. Roll back plan: Revert to the previous snapshot or restore from backup if issues occur.
• A change window may be needed depending on service impact and approval requirements.

4.2 Implementation

1. Step 1: Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Step 2: Set a password for the ‘OutOfBox’ account using the command ‘net user OutOfBox *’. You will be prompted to enter and confirm a new password.
3. Step 3: Verify the password has been set by running ‘net user OutOfBox’ again. The “Password Not Required” flag should no longer be present. Alternatively, disable the account using ‘net user OutOfBox /active:no’.

4.3 Config or Code Example

Before

net user OutOfBox

After

net user OutOfBox * 

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 accounts are not created with weak or no passwords. A regular patch cadence ensures systems receive security updates that address default configuration issues.

• Practice 1: Implement least privilege to limit the damage caused by a compromised account.
• Practice 2: Enforce strong password policies and safe defaults during system deployment.

4.5 Automation (Optional)

# PowerShell example - use with caution!
$username = "OutOfBox"
$password = "YourStrongPasswordHere!" # Replace with a strong password
net user $username $password /domain 

5. Verification / Validation

Confirm the fix by checking if the account requires a password and attempting to log in without credentials.

• Post-fix check: Run ‘net user OutOfBox’ again. The output should not show “Password Not Required”.
• Re-test: Attempt to log in as ‘OutOfBox’ without a password. Authentication should fail.
• Monitoring: Check Windows Security Event Logs for failed login attempts against the ‘OutOfBox’ account (Event ID 4625) – these should now be blocked.

net user OutOfBox

6. Preventive Measures and Monitoring

Update security baselines to include password requirements for all accounts, including default accounts. Implement automated checks in CI/CD pipelines to enforce secure configurations during system deployment. Establish a regular patch or configuration review cycle to address potential vulnerabilities like this one.

• Baselines: Update your Windows security baseline to require passwords for all local accounts.
• Pipelines: Add a check to your image build process that verifies the ‘OutOfBox’ account has a password set.

7. Risks, Side Effects, and Roll Back

Setting a password may break applications or services relying on unauthenticated access with this account. Disabling the account could impact functionality if it’s still required by legacy systems. To roll back, revert to the previous snapshot or restore from backup. If you only set a password, remove it using ‘net user OutOfBox “”‘.

• Risk or side effect 2: Disabling the account could disrupt legacy services.
• Roll back: 1. Restore from snapshot/backup. 2. If only set a password, run ‘net user OutOfBox “”‘ to remove it.

8. References and Resources

• Vendor advisory or bulletin: CERT Vulnerability Note
• NVD or CVE entry: CVE-1999-0502 on NVD
• Product or platform documentation relevant to the fix: Microsoft Local Account Management