apache / apache/cloudstack

Weak Default Password on System VMs.

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#14,075 1 comment 0 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub
component:csvm component:ssvm component:virtual-router type:security
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Java
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Description

### 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.

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

Start by locating the existing System VM password-randomization feature and the documentation proposed in this issue; no specific files or tests are named. Check how the behavior applies to SSVM, CPVM, and VR, including its configuration default and opt-out. Done means passwords are randomized by default and administrators can still disable the behavior, with the usage documented clearly.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
java
Domain
cloud, infrastructure, security
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Active
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
48/100

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