CVE-2018-6825
📋 TL;DR
VOBOT CLOCK devices before version 0.99.30 contain a hardcoded SSH account 'vobot' with root privileges. This allows attackers to gain complete control of affected devices. All users of VOBOT CLOCK devices running vulnerable firmware are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- VOBOT CLOCK
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete device compromise allowing attackers to install malware, steal data, pivot to other network resources, or use the device as part of a botnet.
Likely Case
Unauthorized root access leading to device takeover, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within the network.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if SSH access is blocked at network perimeter and devices are isolated from sensitive systems.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires only SSH client access and knowledge of the hardcoded credentials.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 0.99.30 or later
Vendor Advisory: http://stacksmashing.net/CVE-2018-6825.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Download firmware version 0.99.30 or later from vendor. 2. Follow vendor's firmware update procedure. 3. Verify SSH service no longer accepts 'vobot' credentials.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Block SSH access
linuxPrevent SSH connections to vulnerable devices using network controls
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 22 -j DROP
Change SSH configuration
linuxDisable SSH service or restrict access to specific IPs
systemctl stop ssh
echo 'AllowUsers otheruser' >> /etc/ssh/sshd_config
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Isolate affected devices in separate network segments with strict firewall rules
- Implement network monitoring for SSH brute force attempts and unusual SSH connections
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Attempt SSH login with username 'vobot' and any password to see if connection is acceptedCheck Version:
cat /etc/version or check device web interfaceVerify Fix Applied:
Verify SSH login with 'vobot' credentials is rejected and check firmware version is 0.99.30+📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Failed SSH authentication attempts for 'vobot' user
- Successful SSH logins from unusual IP addresses
Network Indicators:
- SSH connections to port 22 from unexpected sources
- Multiple SSH connection attempts in short time
SIEM Query:
source="ssh_logs" user="vobot" OR (event="authentication failure" AND user="vobot")