CVE-2025-67304: Ruckus Network Director Auth Bypass Flaw

CVE-2025-67304 Overview

CVE-2025-67304 is a critical hardcoded credentials vulnerability affecting Ruckus Network Director (RND) OVA appliances prior to version 4.5.0.54. The appliance ships with hardcoded credentials for the ruckus PostgreSQL database user, and in the default configuration, the PostgreSQL service is exposed on the network via TCP port 5432. An attacker with network access can leverage these hardcoded credentials to authenticate remotely with superuser privileges to the database, enabling creation of administrative users for the web interface, extraction of password hashes, and execution of arbitrary operating system commands.

Critical Impact

Remote attackers can exploit hardcoded database credentials to gain full control of the Ruckus Network Director appliance, create administrative accounts, exfiltrate sensitive data, and execute arbitrary OS commands—potentially compromising the entire network management infrastructure.

Affected Products

• Ruckus Network Director (RND) OVA appliance versions prior to 4.5.0.54

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-19 - CVE-2025-67304 published to NVD
• 2026-02-19 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-67304

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from the presence of hardcoded credentials embedded within the Ruckus Network Director OVA appliance. The PostgreSQL database used by RND includes a preconfigured user account (ruckus) with static credentials that cannot be changed by administrators during normal deployment or configuration workflows.

In the default deployment configuration, the PostgreSQL service listens on all network interfaces on TCP port 5432, making it accessible to any attacker with network connectivity to the appliance. Once authenticated using the hardcoded credentials, the attacker obtains superuser-level access to the database.

With database superuser privileges, an attacker can perform multiple high-impact actions:

1. Administrative Account Creation: Insert new administrative users directly into the web interface's user tables, bypassing authentication controls entirely.
2. Password Hash Extraction: Query user tables to extract password hashes for offline cracking, potentially compromising additional accounts and systems where credentials are reused.
3. Arbitrary OS Command Execution: Leverage PostgreSQL's native functionality (such as COPY TO PROGRAM or custom functions) to execute arbitrary operating system commands with the privileges of the PostgreSQL service account.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2025-67304 is a hardcoded credentials design flaw. The development team included static database credentials in the OVA appliance image, likely for ease of deployment or internal testing purposes. These credentials were never removed or made configurable before production release.

This type of vulnerability represents a significant deviation from secure software development practices, as hardcoded credentials cannot be rotated, audited, or managed through standard credential management processes.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based. An attacker requires only network access to TCP port 5432 on the Ruckus Network Director appliance. No prior authentication to the web interface or physical access to the system is required.

The exploitation sequence involves:

1. Network reconnaissance to identify RND appliances exposing PostgreSQL on port 5432
2. Connection to the PostgreSQL service using the hardcoded ruckus user credentials
3. Execution of SQL queries to create administrative accounts or extract sensitive data
4. Optionally, leveraging PostgreSQL command execution capabilities to run OS-level commands

For detailed technical information regarding the exploitation mechanism, refer to the GitHub Security Advisory MCSAID-2025-009 and the CommScope Security Vulnerability Whitepaper.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-67304

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected or unauthorized connections to PostgreSQL service on TCP port 5432 from external or untrusted IP addresses
• New administrative user accounts appearing in the RND web interface without corresponding audit trail entries
• PostgreSQL log entries showing successful authentication from the ruckus user originating from unusual source IPs
• Evidence of COPY TO PROGRAM or similar PostgreSQL command execution features being invoked
• Unexpected processes spawned by the PostgreSQL service user account

Detection Strategies

• Monitor network traffic for inbound connections to TCP port 5432 on RND appliances, especially from non-management network segments
• Implement database activity monitoring to detect anomalous queries, including user creation, password hash extraction, or command execution attempts
• Regularly audit administrative user accounts in the RND web interface for unauthorized additions
• Deploy intrusion detection signatures for PostgreSQL authentication attempts using known hardcoded credentials

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable PostgreSQL connection logging and forward logs to a centralized SIEM for analysis
• Configure network-level alerting for any connections to port 5432 from outside the trusted management network
• Establish baseline behavior for database activity and alert on deviations such as new user creation or bulk data extraction
• Monitor system process activity on the RND appliance for unexpected child processes of the PostgreSQL daemon

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-67304

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade Ruckus Network Director to version 4.5.0.54 or later, which addresses this vulnerability
• Restrict network access to TCP port 5432 using firewall rules, limiting connections to trusted management hosts only
• Audit RND appliances for signs of compromise, including unauthorized administrative accounts and suspicious database activity
• Review network logs for historical connection attempts to PostgreSQL on affected appliances

Patch Information

CommScope has released Ruckus Network Director version 4.5.0.54 to address CVE-2025-67304. Organizations should upgrade to this version or later immediately. For detailed patch information and download links, refer to the CommScope Security Vulnerability Whitepaper.

Workarounds

• Implement host-based firewall rules on the RND appliance to block external access to PostgreSQL port 5432
• Deploy network segmentation to isolate RND appliances from untrusted network segments
• Use external firewall or access control lists to restrict PostgreSQL access to authorized management stations only
• Monitor for and remove any unauthorized administrative accounts pending upgrade

# Example: Restrict PostgreSQL access using iptables (temporary workaround)
# Allow PostgreSQL connections only from trusted management IP
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 5432 -s <TRUSTED_MGMT_IP> -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 5432 -j DROP