CVE-2026-28778
Exposed Creds in Datacast Sfx2100 Firmware
Raw vector
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:N/VA:N/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H/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-2026-28778 is a high-severity Use of Hard-coded Credentials (CWE-798) vulnerability in Datacast Sfx2100 Firmware. Its CVSS base score is 7.9 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Unsecured Credentials (T1552); ranked in the top 45% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; 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 IA-5 (Authenticator Management) and SC-12 (Cryptographic Key Establishment and Management) — 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-2026-28778 is a critical vulnerability in the International Datacasting Corporation (IDC) SFX Series SuperFlex Satellite Receiver, stemming from undocumented, hardcoded, and insecure credentials for the `xd` user account, mapped to CWE-798 (Use of Hard-coded Credentials). Published on 2026-03-04, it carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H), reflecting its high severity due to network accessibility, low complexity, and potential for complete system compromise.
A remote unauthenticated attacker can exploit the flaw by logging into the device via FTP using the known `xd` credentials. Once authenticated, the attacker gains write access to the `xd` user's home directory, which contains root-executed binaries and symlinks invoked by processes like `xdstartstop`. This enables overwriting critical files or manipulating symlinks, culminating in arbitrary code execution with root privileges.
Details on the vulnerability, including the affected SFX Series models, are documented in the advisory blog post at https://www.abdulmhsblog.com/posts/sfx2100-vulns/.
OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2026-9373
Vulnerability Data
International Datacasting Corporation (IDC) SFX Series SuperFlex Satellite Receiver contains undocumented, hardcoded/insecure credentials for the `xd` user account. A remote unauthenticated attacker can log in via FTP using these credentials. Because the `xd` user has write permissions to their home…
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directory where root-executed binaries and symlinks (such as those invoked by `xdstartstop`) are stored, the attacker can overwrite these files or manipulate symlinks to achieve arbitrary code execution as the root user.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Authenticator management requires secure distribution and handling of credentials, structurally discouraging hard-coded values.
Cryptographic key management mandates proper establishment and handling instead of embedding keys in code.
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.