Empire C2 / Starkiller Interface Default Login Scanner

Empire C2 and Starkiller Interface is widely used in cybersecurity operations by Red Teamers and penetration testers to simulate advanced attack scenarios. The software is designed to facilitate command and control operations, allowing users to manage and simulate attacks across various computing environments. Empire C2 provides a flexible framework to integrate with other tools, enhancing the capability of Red Teams to perform complex attack chains. Starkiller Interface serves as a graphical front-end to Empire, improving usability through a more intuitive control panel. Often integrated in cybersecurity training environments, these tools are essential for preparing companies against real-world threats. The widespread usage underscores its importance in the cybersecurity ecosystem.

This scanner identifies default login vulnerabilities, which occur when systems are deployed with default administrative credentials that have not been changed. In systems like Empire C2 and Starkiller Interface, default logins pose a serious risk as they can provide unauthorized access if exploited. The default credentials are a common oversight in configuration management and can be easily exploited by attackers who are familiar with these defaults. Identifying the presence of default logins is crucial for securing systems and preventing unauthorized parties from gaining administrative control. This vulnerability typically arises during initial deployment and setup phases, making it essential to detect and remediate promptly.

Technically, the vulnerability stems from insecure initial configurations, where administrative credentials are set to easily guessable or widely-known values. The scanner checks HTTP requests against the default credentials to determine if access is granted without any modification to the authentication settings. The primary vulnerability lies in the setup endpoint responsible for administrative access. By exploiting this endpoint, attackers with network access can gain control over the interface, leading to unauthorized operations. The scanner utilizes a pitchfork attack methodology to input various combinations of usernames and passwords at the login endpoints to detect successful access attempts.

If exploited, this vulnerability could allow attackers to gain full administrative access to the control interface, facilitating the deployment of malicious payloads into targeted systems. Such control would enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands, steal sensitive data, and potentially disrupt operations, causing significant security breaches. Attackers can also modify configurations or deploy further malware, escalating their privileges within the network. The presence of such a vulnerability could lead to a complete compromise of the system integrity and confidentiality. As a result, immediate remediation is required to mitigate risks associated with unauthorized access.

REFERENCES

• https://github.com/BC-SECURITY/Empire
• https://github.com/BC-SECURITY/empire-docs/blob/main/restful-api/README.md