BlackTreeIndependent security intelligenceBelden · Hirschmann HiLCOS Classic Platform
High technical severity; prioritise exposed affected systems while verifying vendor guidance.
High technical severity; prioritise exposed affected systems while verifying vendor guidance.
Patch availableHirschmann HiLCOS Classic Platform switches Classic L2E, L2P, L3E, L3P versions prior to 09.0.06 and Classic L2B prior to 05.3.07 contain a credential exposure vulnerability where user passwords are synchronized with SNMPv1/v2 community strings and transmitted in plaintext when the feature is enabled. Attackers with local network access can sniff SNMP traffic or extract configuration data to recover plaintext credentials and gain unauthorized administrative access to the switches.
Hirschmann HiLCOS Classic Platform switches Classic L2E, L2P, L3E, L3P versions prior to 09.0.06 and Classic L2B prior to 05.3.07 contain a credential exposure vulnerability where user passwords are synchronized with SNMPv1/v2 community strings and transmitted in plaintext when the feature is enabled. Attackers with local network access can sniff SNMP traffic or extract configuration data to recover plaintext credentials and gain unauthorized administrative access to the switches.
The storage of passwords in a recoverable format makes them subject to password reuse attacks by malicious users. In fact, it should be noted that recoverable encrypted passwords provide no significant benefit over plaintext passwords since they are subject not only to reuse by malicious attackers but also by malicious insiders. If a system administrator can recover a password directly, or use a brute force search on the available information, the administrator can use the password on other accounts.
An attacker operating through an adjacent network may attempt exploitation without authentication or user interaction. If successful, the issue may cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor.
Hirschmann HiLCOS Classic Platform switches Classic L2E, L2P, L3E, L3P versions prior to 09.0.06 and Classic L2B prior to 05.3.07 contain a credential exposure vulnerability where user passwords are synchronized with SNMPv1/v2 community strings and transmitted in plaintext when the feature is enabled. Attackers with local network access can sniff SNMP traffic or extract configuration data to recover plaintext credentials and gain unauthorized administrative access to the switches.
The storage of passwords in a recoverable format makes them subject to password reuse attacks by malicious users. In fact, it should be noted that recoverable encrypted passwords provide no significant benefit over plaintext passwords since they are subject not only to reuse by malicious attackers but also by malicious insiders. If a system administrator can recover a password directly, or use a brute force search on the available information, the administrator can use the password on other accounts.
An attacker operating through an adjacent network may attempt exploitation without authentication or user interaction. If successful, the issue may cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor.
CVSS severity, EPSS forecast probability, public exploit material and CISA-confirmed exploitation are separate signals.
No CISA KEV match was present at the last successful refresh. This means no confirmation from that source, not proof of no exploitation.
No exploit-tagged reference or CISA SSVC proof-of-concept state is currently recorded. Research may still exist outside the structured feeds.
CWE-257: Storing Passwords in a Recoverable Format. The storage of passwords in a recoverable format makes them subject to password reuse attacks by malicious users. In fact, it should be noted that recoverable encrypted passwords provide no significant benefit over plaintext passwords since they are subject not only to reuse by malicious attackers but also by malicious insiders. If a system administrator can recover a password directly, or use a brute force search on the available information, the administrator can use the password on other accounts.
CVSS:4.0/AV:A/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:NCommon Vulnerability Scoring System 4.0: the compact vector below is decoded into plain language.
Operational remediation based on structured source evidence.
Published 3 Apr 2026 · Last source change 14 May 2026, 02:06 UTC · CWE-257 · Storing Passwords in a Recoverable Format
Core structured fields are present and their contributing authorities are shown above.
No material field changes have been recorded since change tracking began. Routine source refreshes and cosmetic edits are intentionally excluded.