On Thu, 2006-01-12 at 21:05:52 -0500, Steven M. Bellovin proclaimed...
How much entropy is there in a such a serial number? Little enough that it can be brute-forced by someone who knows the pattern? Using some function of the serial number and a vendor-known secret key is better -- until, of course, that "secret" leaks. (Anyone remember how telephone credit card number verification worked before they could do full real-time validation? The Phone Company took a 10-digit phone number and calculated four extra digits, based on that year's secret. Guess how well that secret was kept....)
Hi Steven,
I believe the Netscreen default password of a serial number can only be entered over the console (and possibly modem/aux) port(s).
Yes. Sorry, I left that out. -M<