How to remediate – Zaurus PDA FTP Server Unpassworded root Account

1. Introduction

The Zaurus PDA FTP Server Unpassworded root Account vulnerability allows anyone to access your Zaurus PDA’s FTP server as the ‘root’ user without a password. This means an attacker could steal, change, or delete data on your device. PDAs are often used for personal information like contacts and appointments, making this a serious risk to confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

2. Technical Explanation

The Zaurus FTP server is configured with a blank password for the ‘root’ account. This allows remote attackers to log in without authentication. CVE-2002-1974 describes this issue. An attacker could use any standard FTP client to connect and gain full access to the PDA’s filesystem.

• Root cause: The Zaurus PDA’s default FTP server configuration includes a ‘root’ account with no password set.
• Exploit mechanism: An attacker connects to the FTP server using an FTP client, providing ‘root’ as the username and leaving the password field blank. Successful authentication grants full access. For example, using command line ftp: ftp followed by login as root with a blank password.
• Scope: Zaurus PDA devices running the default FTP server software are affected. Specific versions were not detailed in available information.

3. Detection and Assessment

You can check for this vulnerability by attempting to connect to the FTP server as ‘root’ with no password. A thorough assessment involves trying multiple PDAs if you manage more than one.

• Quick checks: Use a command line FTP client to attempt connection.
• Scanning: Nessus plugin ID 16874 may detect this vulnerability, but results should be verified manually.
• Logs and evidence: Examine the FTP server logs for successful login attempts from unknown sources using the ‘root’ account. Log locations vary by Zaurus PDA model.

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4. Solution / Remediation Steps

There is currently no known patch available to directly address this vulnerability. The only effective mitigation is to disable the FTP server or change the root password immediately.

4.1 Preparation

• There are no dependencies, but ensure you have a method for restoring data if needed. A roll back plan is to restore from backup.
• Change windows should be planned during off-peak hours with approval from IT management.

4.2 Implementation

1. Step 1: Disable the FTP server service on the Zaurus PDA. The method varies by model; consult your device documentation for instructions.
2. Step 2: If you need to use FTP, change the ‘root’ password immediately using a strong, unique password. Consult your device documentation for instructions.

4.3 Config or Code Example

Before

# No password set for root account in FTP configuration file

After

root:your_strong_password  # Set a strong password for the root account. Configuration file location varies by model.

4.4 Security Practices Relevant to This Vulnerability

Least privilege and secure defaults are important practices in preventing this issue. Least privilege limits damage if an attacker gains access, while secure defaults avoid common misconfigurations.

• Practice 1: Implement least privilege by creating separate accounts with limited permissions for users who need FTP access instead of using the ‘root’ account.
• Practice 2: Enforce strong password policies to ensure all accounts have complex, unique passwords.

4.5 Automation (Optional)

Due to the specific nature of Zaurus PDA configuration, automation is unlikely to be practical.

5. Verification / Validation

• Post-fix check: Attempt an FTP connection as root without a password. Expected output should be “Login incorrect” or similar authentication failure message.
• Re-test: Repeat the detection steps from section 3 to confirm that you can no longer connect as ‘root’ with a blank password.
• Smoke test: If re-enabled, verify you can upload and download files using a valid user account.
• Monitoring: Check FTP server logs for failed login attempts as root.

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6. Preventive Measures and Monitoring

Update your security baseline to include strong password requirements and disable unnecessary services like FTP. Regularly review device configurations during deployment or patching.

• Baselines: Update a security baseline for Zaurus PDAs to require strong passwords for all accounts and recommend disabling unused services.
• Pipelines: If using configuration management, include checks in your pipeline to ensure the ‘root’ password is set and that unnecessary services are disabled.
• Asset and patch process: Review PDA configurations regularly during patching or asset inventory updates.

7. Risks, Side Effects, and Roll Back

Disabling FTP may disrupt access for users who rely on it. Changing the root password could lock you out if forgotten; ensure a recovery method is available.

• Risk or side effect 1: Disabling FTP will prevent legitimate users from accessing the service.
• Risk or side effect 2: Forgetting the new root password may require a factory reset, resulting in data loss.
• Roll back: If disabling FTP causes issues, re-enable it using your device documentation. If you forget the new root password, restore from backup or perform a factory reset (data loss).

8. References and Resources

• Vendor advisory or bulletin: No specific vendor advisory was found for Zaurus PDAs at the time of writing.
• NVD or CVE entry: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2002-1974
• Product or platform documentation relevant to the fix: Consult your specific Zaurus PDA model’s documentation for instructions on disabling FTP and changing passwords.