The product uses default credentials (such as passwords or cryptographic keys) for potentially critical functionality.

It is common practice for products to be designed to use
default keys, passwords, or other mechanisms for
authentication. The rationale is to simplify the
manufacturing process or the system administrator's task of
installation and deployment into an enterprise. However, if
admins do not change the defaults, it is easier for attackers
to bypass authentication quickly across multiple
organizations.

Primary

Architecture and Design

Authentication
Gain Privileges or Assume Identity

Requirements
Prohibit use of default, hard-coded, or other values that do not vary for each installation of the product - especially for separate organizations.
High

Architecture and Design
Force the administrator to change the credential upon installation.
High

Installation
Operation
The product administrator could change the defaults upon installation or during operation.
Moderate

In 2022, the OT:ICEFALL study examined products by 10 different Operational Technology (OT) vendors. The researchers reported 56 vulnerabilities and said that the products were "insecure by design" [REF-1283]. If exploited, these vulnerabilities often allowed adversaries to change how the products operated, ranging from denial of service to changing the code that the products executed. Since these products were often used in industries such as power, electrical, water, and others, there could even be safety implications.
At least one OT product used default credentials.

CVE-2022-30270
Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) uses default credentials for some SSH accounts
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-30270

CVE-2021-41192
data visualization/sharing package uses default secret keys or cookie values if they are not specified in environment variables
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-41192

CVE-2021-38759
microcontroller board has default password, allowing admin access
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-38759

CVE-2018-3825
cloud cluster management product has a default master encryption key
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-3825

CVE-2010-2306
Intrusion Detection System (IDS) uses the same static, private SSL keys for multiple devices and installations, allowing decryption of SSL traffic
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2010-2306

Allowed
This CWE entry is at the Base level of abstraction, which is a preferred level of abstraction for mapping to the root causes of vulnerabilities.
Carefully read both the name and description to ensure that this mapping is an appropriate fit. Do not try to 'force' a mapping to a lower-level Base/Variant simply to comply with this preferred level of abstraction.

CWE Content Team
MITRE
2022-10-07
4.9
2022-10-13

CWE Content Team
MITRE
2023-01-31
updated Applicable_Platforms, Demonstrative_Examples, Observed_Examples, References

CWE Content Team
MITRE
2023-04-27
updated Relationships

CWE Content Team
MITRE
2023-06-29
updated Mapping_Notes

CWE Content Team
MITRE
2024-11-19
4.16
2024-11-19
updated Observed_Examples

CWE Content Team
MITRE
2025-12-11
4.19
2025-12-11
updated Observed_Examples, Relationships, Weakness_Ordinalities