Vulnerability record · CVE-2019-15802 · published 14 November 2019
CVE-2019-15802: Zyxel gs1900-8 firmware hard-coded credentials vulnerability
Zyxel · Gs1900 8 Firmware
An issue was discovered on Zyxel GS1900 devices with firmware before 2.50(AAHH.0)C0. The firmware hashes and encrypts passwords using a hardcoded cryptographic key in sal_util_str_encrypt() in libsal.so.0.0. The parameters (salt, IV, and key data) are used to encrypt and decrypt all passwords using AES256 in CBC mode. With the parameters known, all previously encrypted passwords can be decrypted. This includes the passwords that are part of configuration backups or otherwise embedded as part of the firmware.
Description
An issue was discovered on Zyxel GS1900 devices with firmware before 2.50(AAHH.0)C0. The firmware hashes and encrypts passwords using a hardcoded cryptographic key in sal_util_str_encrypt() in libsal.so.0.0. The parameters (salt, IV, and key data) are used to encrypt and decrypt all passwords using AES256 in CBC mode. With the parameters known, all previously encrypted passwords can be decrypted. This includes the passwords that are part of configuration backups or otherwise embedded as part of the firmware.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
Affected products
9 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.
References
| Link | Tags |
|---|---|
| https://jasper.la/exploring-zyxel-gs1900-firmware-with-ghidra.html | ExploitThird Party Advisory |
| https://www.zyxel.com/support/gs1900-switch-vulnerabilities.shtml | Vendor Advisory |
| https://jasper.la/exploring-zyxel-gs1900-firmware-with-ghidra.html | ExploitThird Party Advisory |
| https://www.zyxel.com/support/gs1900-switch-vulnerabilities.shtml | Vendor Advisory |
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Related vulnerabilities
Same products first, then exploited flaws of the same weakness class.
Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2019-15802), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-10-11). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.