Cyber Resilience

CVE-2024-6045

Exposed Creds

Published
17 June 2024
Modified
15 April 2026
CVSS Score v3.1 8.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.063 93th percentile
Risk Priority 72 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2024-6045 is a high-severity Use of Hard-coded Credentials (CWE-798) vulnerability in Org (inferred from references). Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Unsecured Credentials (T1552); ranked in the top 7% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to CM-2 (Baseline Configuration) and CM-7 (Least Functionality) — 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.

Certain models of D-Link wireless routers contain an undisclosed factory testing backdoor that implements hidden functionality for enabling remote access. The affected devices allow an unauthenticated actor on the local network to activate the Telnet service by requesting a specific URL, after which login is possible using administrator credentials recovered through firmware analysis. The issue is tracked under CVE-2024-6045 with a CVSS 3.1 score of 8.8 and is associated with CWE-798 and CWE-912.

An attacker positioned on the same LAN can exploit the backdoor without authentication or user interaction to obtain full administrative control over the router. Successful exploitation grants the ability to read or modify configuration data, intercept traffic, and pivot to other devices on the network.

D-Link has published security announcements (SAP10398) and Taiwan's CERT has issued coordinated advisories detailing the affected models and recommended actions; these resources should be consulted for firmware updates or configuration changes that disable the testing interface. The associated EPSS score remains low, with a current value of 0.0762 and a peak of 0.0789.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

Certain models of D-Link wireless routers contain an undisclosed factory testing backdoor. Unauthenticated attackers on the local area network can force the device to enable Telnet service by accessing a specific URL and can log in by using the administrator…

more

credentials obtained from analyzing the firmware.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1552 Unsecured Credentials Credential Access
Adversaries may search compromised systems to find and obtain insecurely stored credentials.
T1552.001 Credentials In Files Credential Access
Adversaries may search local file systems and remote file shares for files containing insecurely stored credentials.
T1078 Valid Accounts Stealth
Adversaries may obtain and abuse credentials of existing accounts as a means of gaining Initial Access, Persistence, Privilege Escalation, or Defense Evasion.
T1078.001 Default Accounts Stealth
Adversaries may obtain and abuse credentials of a default account as a means of gaining Initial Access, Persistence, Privilege Escalation, or Defense Evasion.
T1108 Redundant Access Stealth
**This technique has been deprecated.
T1505 Server Software Component Persistence
Adversaries may abuse legitimate extensible development features of servers to establish persistent access to systems.
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2024-5514Shared CWE-798, CWE-912
CVE-2026-41446Shared CWE-798, CWE-912
CVE-2024-20439Shared CWE-798, CWE-912
CVE-2026-61515Shared CWE-912
CVE-2023-25183Shared CWE-912
CVE-2024-37994Shared CWE-912
CVE-2026-18191Shared CWE-912
CVE-2025-2894Shared CWE-912
CVE-2025-26412Shared CWE-912
CVE-2025-11544Shared CWE-912

Affected Assets

Org
inferred from references and description; NVD did not file a CPE for this CVE

Mitigating Controls

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

Maintaining and reviewing a documented baseline configuration allows comparison that reveals any functionality absent from the approved specification.

Least-functionality configuration explicitly prohibits or restricts any capability not required by the approved baseline, blocking hidden additions.

Authenticator management requires secure distribution and handling of credentials, structurally discouraging hard-coded values.

Developer testing and evaluation activities are designed to discover undocumented or unspecified functionality after it has been introduced.

Cryptographic key management mandates proper establishment and handling instead of embedding keys in code.

Documented development processes and standards require all functionality to be specified and visible, structurally preventing undocumented hidden features.

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.PS-06 full match
prevents

Secure SDLC practices directly prevent introduction of undocumented hidden functionality during development.

ID.RA-09 mostly match
prevents

Pre-acquisition integrity/authenticity checks can detect undocumented hidden functions in supplied software/hardware.

PR.AA-01 partial match
prevents

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 none match
prevents

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 none match
prevents

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.

finds

Security testing in development and acceptance can discover undocumented functionality before release.

prevents

Change management processes can catch unauthorized additions but do not inherently prevent hidden functionality from being introduced.

prevents

Education on secure configuration practices discourages technical staff from embedding or relying on hard-coded credentials in systems and applications.

finds

Monitoring activities can detect anomalous behavior from hidden functions but do not eliminate the weakness.

mitigates

Secure key-generation, distribution and storage procedures reduce the likelihood that hard-coded or default cryptographic keys will be introduced or left unprotected.

prevents

Secure development life cycle mandates documented requirements and design reviews that would expose undocumented hidden functionality.

References