What is a common approach to mitigate the risk of attacks that exploit default credentials in network devices?

A common and effective approach to mitigate the risk of attacks that exploit default credentials in network devices is to implement strict credential management policies. Default credentials often include well-known usernames and passwords that are easily accessible to attackers, making devices vulnerable if these credentials are not changed.

By enforcing strict credential management policies, organizations can ensure that default usernames and passwords are replaced with strong, unique credentials that meet security standards. This can include mandates for complexity, regular updates, and unique passwords for different devices. Additionally, the policy can require that default settings be altered immediately upon device installation, which minimizes the window of opportunity for attackers to leverage those defaults.

This approach is proactive and establishes a foundational security posture, reducing the likelihood that an attacker can gain unauthorized access to network devices through well-documented and widely-known default credentials.