CVE-2015-7280

Step 1: Network Discovery: The attacker identifies a ReadyNet WRT300N-DD router on the local network, likely by scanning the network for common IP ranges and open ports (e.g., port 80 for the web interface).

Step 2: Web Interface Access: The attacker navigates to the router's web administration interface using the router's IP address in a web browser (e.g., http://192.168.1.1).

Step 3: Authentication Attempt: The attacker attempts to log in using the default credentials: username 'admin' and password 'admin'.

Step 4: Successful Login: Because the default password has not been changed, the authentication succeeds, granting the attacker administrative privileges.

Step 5: System Compromise: The attacker can now access and modify the router's settings, including changing the DNS servers, redirecting traffic, installing malicious firmware, or gaining access to connected devices on the network.

The vulnerability stems from the manufacturer's failure to change the default administrative password ('admin') during the device's configuration. This oversight allows any user on the local network to bypass authentication and gain full administrative access to the router's web interface. The root cause is a lack of secure configuration practices and a failure to enforce password changes upon initial setup. The web interface likely uses basic HTTP authentication, making it trivial to exploit.