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OWASP Risks Atlasby Jer Catallo

Issue Details

Weak, Guessable, or Hardcoded Passwords

iot01 • Rank #1 in OWASP 2023

Explanation

IoT devices frequently ship with well-known default credentials (admin/admin, root/root) or hardcoded passwords that cannot be changed. Attackers use automated scanners to find and exploit these devices at scale, forming botnets like Mirai. Hardcoded credentials in firmware cannot be patched without device replacement.

Remedy

Enforce unique default passwords per device. Require password change on first login. Disable hardcoded credentials and implement secure credential management. Support strong authentication mechanisms and account lockout policies.

YearRankCategory
2018#1iot01 - Weak, Guessable, or Hardcoded Passwords
2022#1iot01 - Weak Authentication and Access Control