CVE-2024-42638Network attack vector

Root login via hard-coded shadow credential

Published Aug 16, 2024 · Updated Mar 17, 2025

Use of hard-coded credentials in H3C Magic B1ST 100R012 allows remote attackers to log in to the router as root over the network. The firmware stores a fixed root-account credential in /etc/shadow, causing the same embedded credential to authenticate with unrestricted privileges. Network reachability to the device is the only reported gate; successful authentication grants control of the embedded system and router configuration.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.56%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Use of hard-coded credentials in H3C Magic B1ST 100R012 allows remote attackers to log in to the router as root over the network. The firmware stores a fixed root-account credential in /etc/shadow, causing the same embedded credential to authenticate with unrestricted privileges. Network reachability to the device is the only reported gate; successful authentication grants control of the embedded system and router configuration.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-42638
Published
Aug 16, 2024
Updated
Mar 17, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-798, T1078.001
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 16, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 17, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

9.8CISA ADP VulnrichmentCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-798Use of Hard-coded Credentials
T1078.001Default Accounts

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo