CVE-2026-77975 Overview
CVE-2026-77975 affects an Ebyte product that exports administrative credentials and other sensitive configuration data without adequate protection. An unauthenticated attacker on the adjacent network who obtains an exported configuration file can recover valid credentials. Those credentials enable access to the device or to similarly configured systems reusing the same secrets.
The weakness is categorized as CWE-312: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information. CISA published the issue in ICS Advisory ICSA-26-237-06, indicating it affects operational technology environments where lateral movement between similarly configured devices is common.
Critical Impact
Attackers who intercept or retrieve an exported configuration file can extract administrative credentials in cleartext and authenticate to the affected Ebyte device or any peer device sharing the configuration.
Affected Products
- Ebyte industrial control product (specific model per CISA advisory ICSA-26-237-06)
- Devices sharing exported configuration profiles with the affected product
- Peer systems configured with identical administrative credentials
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-08-31 - CVE-2026-77975 published to NVD
- 2026-09-01 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-77975
Vulnerability Analysis
The affected Ebyte product provides a configuration export feature that writes administrative credentials and other sensitive parameters to an output file without applying encryption or access control. Any actor with read access to the exported file recovers the credentials directly.
The issue maps to CWE-312 because sensitive data is stored in cleartext form. Configuration exports are commonly generated for backup, provisioning, or fleet management workflows in industrial environments. Sharing or intercepting one of these files converts a routine operational task into a credential exposure event.
Credential reuse compounds the impact. Many operators apply identical administrative passwords across fleets of similar devices, so a single exported file can unlock every peer node on the network segment.
Root Cause
The root cause is the absence of confidentiality controls on the exported configuration artifact. The product writes secrets in a recoverable form rather than encrypting them, hashing them, or requiring an authenticated retrieval step. There is no cryptographic binding of the export to a specific operator or key.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires adjacent network access, meaning the attacker must reach the same broadcast domain or logical segment as the device. No authentication is required and no user interaction is needed. Once the attacker obtains an exported configuration file through network capture, file share access, or backup exposure, they parse the file offline and extract usable administrative credentials.
The vulnerability is described in prose only. Refer to the CISA ICS Advisory ICSA-26-237-06 and the CSAF JSON File for authoritative technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-77975
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected administrative logins to Ebyte devices originating from adjacent network hosts.
- Presence of exported configuration files in unauthorized directories, email attachments, or file shares.
- Repeated authentication events across multiple peer devices from a single source within a short window, indicating credential reuse.
Detection Strategies
- Inspect network flows for unencrypted configuration file transfers matching Ebyte export formats and filenames.
- Alert on administrative authentication events that occur outside sanctioned maintenance windows.
- Correlate successful logins across devices sharing configuration profiles to identify credential replay.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Log all configuration export actions on affected devices, including operator identity and destination.
- Monitor OT network segments for cleartext protocols carrying credential material.
- Track file integrity on backup shares that hold device configuration artifacts.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-77975
Immediate Actions Required
- Restrict adjacent network access to Ebyte devices using VLAN segmentation and firewall access control lists.
- Rotate all administrative credentials on affected devices and any peer devices provisioned with the same secrets.
- Locate and securely delete any exported configuration files stored outside controlled repositories.
- Review recent authentication logs for signs of credential reuse across the fleet.
Patch Information
Refer to the CISA ICS Advisory ICSA-26-237-06 for the vendor's remediation guidance and firmware update availability. The affected products list and fixed versions are maintained in the CSAF JSON File.
Workarounds
- Store exported configuration files only on encrypted media with strict access controls.
- Transfer configuration exports exclusively over authenticated, encrypted channels such as SSH or TLS.
- Assign unique administrative credentials per device to prevent credential reuse from cascading across the fleet.
- Disable or restrict the configuration export feature to authorized administrators on trusted management hosts.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
