CVE-2024-38902
📋 TL;DR
H3C Magic R230 routers running V100R002 contain a hardcoded root password in /etc/shadow, allowing attackers to gain full administrative control. This affects all devices running the vulnerable firmware version. Attackers can exploit this to compromise the router and potentially pivot to connected networks.
💻 Affected Systems
- H3C Magic R230
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete device takeover, credential harvesting, network pivoting, persistent backdoor installation, and data exfiltration from connected devices.
Likely Case
Router compromise leading to network traffic interception, DNS hijacking, and unauthorized access to connected systems.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if device is isolated, not internet-facing, and network segmentation prevents lateral movement.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires SSH or telnet access to the device. The hardcoded password is publicly documented in vulnerability reports.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Unknown
Vendor Advisory: Unknown
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
Check H3C vendor website for firmware updates. If available, download and apply the latest firmware following vendor instructions.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Change root password
linuxManually change the root password to a strong, unique password
passwd root
Disable remote root login
linuxModify SSH configuration to prevent root login
sed -i 's/PermitRootLogin yes/PermitRootLogin no/' /etc/ssh/sshd_config
service ssh restart
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Isolate affected devices in a separate network segment
- Implement strict firewall rules to limit access to management interfaces
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check /etc/shadow file for hardcoded password: grep root /etc/shadowCheck Version:
cat /etc/version or check web interfaceVerify Fix Applied:
Verify root password hash has changed and SSH root login is disabled📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Failed SSH login attempts followed by successful root login
- Unusual root login from unexpected IP addresses
Network Indicators:
- SSH or telnet connections to router management interface from suspicious sources
SIEM Query:
source="router.log" ("Accepted password for root" OR "session opened for user root")