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[Hardening] F-17: Weak Default Password on System VMs. #14075

Description

@davift

The required feature described as a wish

Description: By default, CloudStack uses a hard-coded password for all System VMs.

Affected Components: System VMs (SSVM, CPVM, and VR)

Impact: An attacker who knows the default credentials, which are publicly documented, and has console access to any System VM could log in as root.

  • On a VR: the attacker could act as a man-in-the-middle (MITM).
  • On a SSVM: the attacker could tamper with templates and ISOs, and delete snapshots.
  • On a CPVM: the attacker could potentially install a keylogger on noVNC sessions.

Steps to Reproduce:

  • Open the Console of any System VM.
  • Enter the default username root and password password.

Recommended Remediation: Enable randomization of System VM passwords by default, while allowing administrators to disable this behavior if needed.

Note: This feature already exists. Additionally, documentation improvements have been proposed to clarify how to enable and use it.

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