If Iranian hackers haven’t heard of violating US water facilities, that’s because they couldn’t control a single pressure station serving 7,000 people. Notable for this attack, not its size, but how it was accessible to hackers simply by using the manufacturer’s default password, “1111”. With this narrow escape, CISA urged manufacturers to urge them to eliminate default credentials entirely, citing “year evidence” that these preset passwords were one of the most misused weaknesses.
IT teams are responsible while waiting for manufacturers to implement better security practices. Allowing manufacturer passwords that remain unchanged in your environment, whether it’s critical infrastructure or a standard business network, is like deploying a red carpet for an attacker. Here’s what you need to know about the default password: It’s why they last, business and technology outcomes, and how manufacturers implement how to design safe best practices.
The broad threat of default passwords
Default Password – Standardized credentials such as “Admin/Admin” and “1234” are shipped on countless devices and software systems. Their risks are well documented, but they last in production environments for many reasons.
- Simplify initial setup and configuration
- Streamline bulk device provisioning
- Supports legacy systems with limited security options
- Manufacturers lack the idea of safe design
The results of using the default password are as follows:
- Botnet recruitment: Attackers scan for vulnerable devices and build huge networks aimed at breaching other devices
- Ransomware Entry Points: Hackers use default password access to establish a scaffolding for deploying ransomware
- Supply Chain Compromise: One vulnerable device can provide access to the entire network or partner system
- Complete security bypass: Even robust security measures will be ineffective if the default credentials remain active
Actual consequences of default password attacks
The default password has facilitated some of the most destructive cyberattacks in recent history. For example, the attacker created Mirai Botnet by trying out factory default passwords on thousands of IoT devices. Using a list of 61 common username/password combinations, hackers have compromised over 600,000 connected devices. The resulting botnet launched a catastrophic DDOS attack, reaching an unprecedented 1 TBPS, temporarily disabling internet services, including Twitter and Netflix, causing millions of damage.
The supply chain is also vulnerable to default password attacks, with hackers targeting OEM devices with default credentials that have not been changed as beachheads for multi-stage attacks. Once inside, you will install a backdoor that will keep access open and gradually move through the connected systems until you reach valuable data and critical infrastructure. These default passwords effectively undermine all other security controls and provide attackers with legitimate access to bypass advanced threat detection systems. The UK has recently moved to ban IoT devices from being shipped with a default password.
High cost of default password negligence
Without changing the default password, you can create results that exceed the initial security breach, including:
- Brand damage: Publicly published violations erode customer trust, allowing costly recalls, crisis management campaigns and litigation to continue for years, with costs easily reaching millions of dollars.
- Regulation penalties: New laws like the EU Cyber Resilience Act and the US state IoT Security Act (such as California) target vulnerabilities in default passwords, particularly targeting vulnerabilities, and pose significant fines for violations.
- Operational burden: Implementing a proper password policy in advance is much more resourceful and cost-effective than emergency incident response, forensic analysis, and recovery efforts.
- Ecosystem vulnerabilities: A single compromised device can damage an interconnected environment – stop production in smart factories, put patient care at risk in healthcare environments, or create cascade failures across partner networks.
5 safe best practices for manufacturers
Manufacturers need to build security into products from establishment, instead of passing the burden of security on their customers.
- Unique credentials per unit: Embed randomized passwords in the factory and printed on each device’s label to eliminate shared default credentials across the product line.
- Password Rotation API: Customers can now automatically rotate or revoke their credentials on their first boot, and changing their credentials becomes part of the standard setup process.
- Zero Trust Onboarding: Before granting system access, out-of-band authentication (e.g. QR code scan tied to a user account) is required to verify the legal device setup.
- Firmware Integrity Check: Sign and verify the login module to prevent unauthorized resets of credentials that can bypass security measures.
- Developer Training and Auditing: Enforce a secure development lifecycle and perform default password scans to catch vulnerabilities before products reach customers.
Protect your organization today
IT professionals must act immediately against default password risk until the manufacturer is fully designed by design. And one of the best ways to do that is to implement strict password policies that include regular device inventory and immediate entitlement changes during deployment.
For maximum protection, consider solutions like Specops Password Policy to automate enforcement. SPECOPS Password Policy simplifies Active Directory password management and implements security standards that ensure compliance while blocking over 4 billion unique, compromised passwords. By performing these proactive steps, you reduce the attack surface and prevent your organization from becoming the next default password hacking headline. Book a live demo of Specops Password Policy today.
