Raw vector
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:XSummary
CVE-2020-37135 is a critical-severity Use of Hard-coded Credentials (CWE-798) vulnerability. Its CVSS base score is 9.3 (Critical).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Default Accounts (T1078.001); ranked at the 35th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to AC-2 (Account Management) and CM-6 (Configuration Settings) — see the control section below for these in your framework.
Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary
Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.
CVE-2020-37135 is an authentication bypass vulnerability in AMSS++ 4.7, classified under CWE-798 (use of hard-coded credentials). The flaw allows attackers to access administrative accounts using hardcoded default credentials, specifically the admin username and password '1234', enabling unauthorized administrative access to the system. It carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N), indicating high severity due to its network accessibility and confidentiality impact.
Remote attackers require only network access to exploit this vulnerability, with no need for prior privileges, user interaction, or complex preconditions. Successful exploitation grants full administrative access, potentially allowing attackers to view sensitive data, modify configurations, or perform other privileged actions, resulting in high confidentiality impact without integrity or availability disruption.
Advisories and references highlight the backdoor nature of the admin account, with details available at https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/amss-backdoor-admin-account and a public exploit published at https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/48114. No specific patch or mitigation steps are detailed in the provided information.
OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2020-31104
Vulnerability Data
AMSS++ 4.7 contains an authentication bypass vulnerability that allows attackers to access administrative accounts using hardcoded credentials. Attackers can log in with the default admin username and password '1234' to gain unauthorized administrative access to the system.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
Hardcoded default admin credentials (admin/1234) directly enable use of default accounts for initial unauthorized access.
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Control response
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
IA-5 requires changing default authenticators prior to first use, directly preventing authentication bypass via hardcoded credentials like 'admin/1234'.
AC-2 mandates management of accounts including disabling unnecessary or default administrative accounts, blocking unauthorized access through hardcoded credentials.
CM-6 enforces secure configuration settings that prohibit default or hardcoded credentials, mitigating the vulnerability in AMSS++ administrative access.
Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
PR.AA-01's credential/key-management processes can reduce the incentive to embed secrets but do not address or detect hard-coded values in source code, so the weakness remains fully possible.
PR.AA-02 addresses human identity proofing and per-person credential issuance at enrollment; it has no bearing on whether developers embed static credentials in software.
PR.DS-01 addresses encryption and integrity of stored data but never touches credential or key management practices, so it neither prevents hard-coded credentials nor removes any of their risk.
Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Education on secure configuration practices discourages technical staff from embedding or relying on hard-coded credentials in systems and applications.
Secure key-generation, distribution and storage procedures reduce the likelihood that hard-coded or default cryptographic keys will be introduced or left unprotected.
Explicit prohibition of hard-coded passwords and unauthenticated external services stops credentials from being embedded directly in source code.
Contractual requirements for secure coding practices and evidence of testing make it less likely that hard-coded credentials will be introduced or remain undetected in delivered code.
Requiring independent oversight and timely disabling of non-human identities makes it harder for hard-coded or long-lived credentials to remain exploitable.
Mandating immediate replacement of vendor-supplied default credentials eliminates the use of hard-coded or factory passwords that attackers can trivially obtain from documentation or firmware.