Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This flaw affects Contec FXA3200 wireless access points running version 1.13 or earlier. A built-in weak root password hash can be recovered, allowing an attacker on the adjacent network to reach management functions and potentially enable Telnet, observe traffic, or alter device behavior.
Executive priority
Treat this as high priority for sites using affected Contec access points. The issue can undermine network confidentiality and integrity from nearby network access, but supplied evidence does not show internet-scale remote exploitation or confirmed active exploitation.
Technical view
CVE-2022-36159 is CWE-798 hard-coded credential material in /etc/shadow on Contec FXA3200 firmware 1.13 and under. CVSS 3.1 is 8.8 with adjacent-network attack vector, no privileges, no user interaction, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely in organizations using Contec FXA3200 wireless LAN access points, especially where wireless or management access is reachable from untrusted adjacent networks. The source bundle does not provide CPEs or a complete product matrix.
Exploitation context
The source bundle describes credential recovery leading to Wireless LAN Manager access and Telnet enablement. CISA KEV status is false, and no provided source states active exploitation in the wild.
Researcher notes
Evidence is strongest for FXA3200 version 1.13 and under. Public references describe the hard-coded weak root hash and post-access impact. The bundle does not name a patch version, complete affected CPEs, or confirmed exploitation activity.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory Contec FXA3200 devices and identify firmware versions.
- Check Contec and JVN guidance for fixed firmware or official mitigations.
- Restrict management access to trusted administrative networks only.
- Disable or block Telnet where operationally possible.
- Isolate affected access points from sensitive network segments.
- Monitor affected devices for unexpected management or Telnet activity.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether any FXA3200 devices run version 1.13 or earlier.
- Review network paths to Wireless LAN Manager from wireless and adjacent networks.
- Verify Telnet is disabled or blocked on affected devices.
- Check logs for unexpected administrator access or configuration changes.
- Document compensating controls for devices awaiting vendor remediation.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-798: Credential and account abuse lookup
Authentication and credential weaknesses can make valid-account abuse and credential telemetry useful review starting points. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCredential and access behavior lookup
The CVE wording references authentication or credential exposure, so valid-account and credential-access review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2022-36159 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 8.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H2.85.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
8.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.contec.com/products-services/computer-networking/flexlan-fx/fx-accesspoint/fxa3200/feature/#sectionCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://gist.github.com/Nwqda/aac33d1936d2b514a3268f145345abb4CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://samy.link/blog/contec-flexlan-fxa2000-and-fxa3000-series-vulnerability-repoCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://jvn.jp/en/vu/JVNVU98305100/CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Use of Hard-coded Credentials
Use of Hard-coded Credentials represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.