CVE-2026-44611: Danelec MacGregor VDR Password Hashing Weakness – CVSS 5.4

Technical summary

CVE-2026-44611 stems from the use of a suboptimal hashing algorithm in the Interschalt VDR G4E firmware that enforces artificial password length limitations and lacks sufficient computational resistance against brute force attempts. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-916 (Use of Password Hash With Insufficient Computational Effort), indicating the hashing mechanism does not impose adequate computational cost per authentication attempt. The CVSS 3.1 score of 5.4 (MEDIUM) reflects that exploitation requires adjacent network access, high attack complexity, and prior authentication, but does succeed in compromising confidentiality while causing limited integrity impact.

Business impact

Maritime operators relying on the Interschalt VDR G4E face elevated risk of unauthorized access to voyage data, which could compromise the integrity of critical safety and regulatory compliance records. VDRs are mandated by international maritime law (SOLAS) to document vessel operations; compromise could enable falsification of records, obstruction of accident investigations, or unauthorized monitoring of vessel movements and performance. Organizations may face regulatory scrutiny from flag state authorities or classification societies if authentication controls are undermined.

Affected systems

The vulnerability affects Danelec MacGregor Interschalt VDR G4E firmware and hardware units. Verify your specific firmware version against vendor advisories, as patch availability and scope may vary. Organizations operating any variant of this equipment should inventory deployments and assess exposure based on network segmentation and access controls.

Exploitability

Exploitation requires an attacker to be on the adjacent network (AV:A), possess valid credentials (PR:L), and overcome high attack complexity (AC:H)—likely meaning an attacker must obtain or know valid usernames and then conduct offline or time-intensive brute force attacks against the stored password hashes. Public exploit code is not known to be available. The attack is not trivial but is feasible for a determined adversary with internal network access, such as a compromised shipboard system or rogue crew member with basic technical skills.

Remediation

Contact Danelec MacGregor to obtain the latest firmware patch for your Interschalt VDR G4E unit. Firmware updates should replace the weak hashing method with a modern, salted, computationally intensive function (e.g., PBKDF2, bcrypt, or Argon2). In parallel, enforce strong password policies, implement network segmentation to restrict VDR access to authorized personnel, and consider enforcing multi-factor authentication or certificate-based authentication if the device supports it.

Patch guidance

Coordinate with your vessel's technical team and Danelec MacGregor support to schedule firmware updates at a convenient maintenance window. Verify against the vendor advisory that your specific firmware revision is covered and document the pre-update configuration. After patching, re-test access controls and confirm that any service accounts are re-credentialed with strong passwords. Given that VDRs are mission-critical systems, validate that the update does not interfere with data recording, playback, or regulatory reporting functions.

Detection guidance

Monitor administrative access logs on the VDR for unusual login attempts, failed authentications, or access outside normal operational patterns. Implement network monitoring to detect brute force traffic targeting the VDR's authentication port. Audit stored credential material if forensic access is possible—look for evidence of weak hashes or truncated passwords. Coordinate with your cyber incident response team to establish baselines for normal VDR access behavior and alerting thresholds.

Why prioritize this

Although the CVSS score is MEDIUM, the context of maritime safety systems and regulatory compliance elevates practical priority. VDRs are legal mandates under SOLAS, and compromise could affect accident investigation, fleet management decisions, and regulatory standing. However, the requirement for adjacent network access and valid credentials means this is not an internet-facing remote threat. Prioritize patching based on your network architecture: vessels with robust access controls and air-gapped networks may defer slightly; vessels with permissive networks or multiple third-party integrations should update promptly.

Risk score, explained

The CVSS 3.1 score of 5.4 reflects a MEDIUM severity primarily because the attack vector is limited to the adjacent network, valid credentials are required, and attack complexity is high. However, the high confidentiality impact (C:H) and the criticality of VDR systems in maritime operations warrant treating this as higher-priority than the base score alone suggests. The limited integrity and availability impact (I:L, A:N) reflects that the vulnerability primarily enables unauthorized data access rather than system outage or widespread data corruption.

Frequently asked questions