CVE-2015-2897
Official description Straight from the sourceThe vendor's or NVD's own wording, published unedited. Authoritative, but often terse — it says what broke, rarely what to do.
NVD · uneditedSierra Wireless ALEOS before 4.4.2 on AirLink ES, GX, and LS devices has hardcoded root accounts, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain administrative access via a (1) SSH or (2) TELNET session.
Technical summary Written by usOur analysis, written from the advisory, the CVSS vector and the affected-version data. It adds context the advisory leaves out, and never invents facts that are not in the source.
dbcve analysis · high confidenceSierra Wireless ALEOS firmware before version 4.4.2 on AirLink ES, GX, and LS devices contains hardcoded root credentials, allowing remote attackers to gain full administrative access via SSH or TELNET sessions.
Verify against the referenced sources before acting — the references below are authoritative for this CVE, this summary is not.
Affected products & versions What the vendor confirmedThe version ranges the vendor confirmed as vulnerable. If your version sits inside a range here, treat yourself as exposed until you have upgraded.
NVD · CPE data<= 4.4.1CVSS breakdown How the score is builtThe industry scoring standard. It rates how the flaw is reached, what it takes to exploit, and what an attacker gains — the score is derived from those, not the other way round.
From the vector- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Authentication
- None
- Confidentiality
- Complete
- Integrity
- Complete
- Availability
- Complete
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
Am I affected? How to checkSteps we derive from the advisory and the affected-version data, so you can decide whether this CVE reaches your setup. They are a guide, not a scan — your own configuration is the authority.
dbcve checksWork through these to decide whether this CVE applies to you.
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Identify the device modelCheck the device label or access the management interface to confirm the model is AirLink ES, GX, or LS from Sierra WirelessAffected if The device is a Sierra Wireless AirLink ES, GX, or LS model
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Check the ALEOS firmware versionAccess the device's web interface or CLI and locate the firmware version information, typically found in the Status or About sectionAffected if The ALEOS firmware version is 4.4.1 or earlier
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Verify SSH or TELNET access is enabledIn the device management interface, navigate to Network > Services or similar section to check if SSH or TELNET remote access is enabledAffected if SSH or TELNET remote administrative access is enabled on the device
If the device is a Sierra Wireless AirLink ES, GX, or LS running ALEOS firmware version 4.4.1 or earlier with SSH or TELNET enabled, the environment is affected by this vulnerability
Generated from the published advisory. Verify against your own configuration.
Remediation Closing itWhat it takes to close this. Where a vendor fix exists we point at it; where none exists we say so plainly, and can build one. Effort estimates are scoped from the advisory, not from your codebase.
dbcve · scopedUpgrade ALEOS firmware to version 4.4.2 or later to remove the hardcoded accounts; as an interim control, disable remote SSH/TELNET access and restrict network exposure using firewalls or VPNs.
Aleos 4.4.2
- Confirm the current Aleos firmware version on the AirLink ES, GX, or LS device via the web interface or CLI
- Obtain Aleos firmware version 4.4.2 or later from the official Sierra Wireless support portal
- Review Sierra Wireless firmware upgrade instructions for your specific AirLink model
- Back up the current device configuration before upgrading
- Upload and apply the new firmware via the device's web interface or via the Sierra Wireless AIRVANTAGE management platform
- After upgrade, verify the firmware version shows 4.4.2 or later
- Change the default administrator passwords immediately after upgrade to unique, strong passwords
- Disable TELNET access if not required, and ensure SSH is configured with key-based authentication
Generated from the published advisory — verify against the referenced sources before acting.
- Consultation4.0 h
- Implementation8.0 h
- Testing4.0 h
- Review / QA2.0 h
An estimate, not a bill — we confirm scope with you before any work starts. Need it this week? Rush from $5,120.
Scan for this in your stack
Free · runs locallyCheck whether your project pulls in CVE-2015-2897 — or any other known-vulnerable package — straight from your lock files. Free and open source; it runs locally and uploads nothing.
References Go to the primary sourcePrimary sources — vendor advisories, patches and trackers. Where our summary and a reference disagree, the reference wins.
Primary sourcesPractitioner notes
ContributedPeer-ranked notes from engineers who’ve handled CVE-2015-2897 in production — separate from our analysis above.
The advisory tells you what broke. It rarely tells you what actually worked. If you’ve dealt with this one, that detail is what the next engineer is searching for.
- The version that genuinely resolved it — not the one the vendor claimed
- A config change or rule that shut the vector down
- A gotcha in the upgrade path that cost you an afternoon
No notes yet
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A place for practitioners to share what actually worked: a mitigation you’ve tested, a configuration change, a version- or environment-specific caveat, or a link to a verified patch. The most useful notes rise to the top as peers upvote them, so the signal stays high.
- Verified mitigations, workarounds, and config changes
- Version or environment caveats, and links to real fixes
- No weaponised exploit code, or anything meant to cause harm
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