The Hidden Dangers of Default Credentials in IoT Manufacturing 

A recent article in The Hacker News highlights an all-too-common—and often overlooked—cybersecurity risk in connected manufacturing systems: default passwords. In one case, Iranian hackers managed to access a U.S. water pressure station serving 7,000 people simply by using the factory-default PIN “1111” (thehackernews.com).

What’s more alarming? Research shows that one in five IoT devices is still operating with default credentials intact. These weak, shared passwords are like low-hanging fruit for attackers—they’re well-known, easy to find, and routinely ignored . With the number of connected devices growing at pace, this matters more than ever – here’s why:

• They are immediate attack vectors: Default passwords come pre-programmed into billions of devices. Attackers scan for these credentials constantly, leveraging them to gain initial footholds.
• They can result in chain-reaction breaches: Once inside, attackers can move laterally—install ransomware, infiltrate supply chains, or even manipulate physical processes.
• They can put critical infrastructure at risk: Even a small breach, like controlling a water pump, can disrupt public services or safety systems.
• They are likely to have compliance consequences: New regulations, like the EU Cyber Resilience Act, specifically prohibit insecure design practices—default credentials included.

Here are some essential proactive steps you can take to defend your operations:

1. Ensure You Have Visibility of all Devices – Research indicates that at least 40% of connected devices are invisible to the CISO, making threat management difficult
2. Enforce Credential Audits on All Devices – Conduct comprehensive inventories. Identify and flag any device with default or weak credentials before it reaches production
3. Eliminate Default Passwords – As soon as devices are deployed—or ideally, before—they must be configured with strong, unique credentials. Use password managers or automated tools to ensure compliance.
4. Adopt Secure Provisioning & Rotation – Use platforms like KeyScaler to automate key and credential lifecycle: provisioning, rotation, expiration, and revocation—without human error.
5. Segment Networks & Reduce Blast Radius
   Place device classes in isolated network zones. Use zero-trust access policies so that compromising one doesn’t compromise the rest.
6. Monitor for Login Anomalies
   Integrate device authentication into your SIEM or IAM environment. Watch for repeated login failures or unexpected access patterns.
7. Partner with Manufacturers
   Demand devices that ship with unique per-unit credentials, one-time setup rotation capabilities, and embedded identity attestation.

From Default to Devastation: A Typical Attack Flow

How Device Authority Helps You Secure Default Credential Weaknesses

• Understand the Scale of the Problem – Our Discovery Tool identifies all unmanaged devices on your network and any associated vulnerabilities
• Automated Key Management: We replace default passwords with cryptographically strong device identities using KeyScaler.
• Policy-Driven Access: Our policies enforce rotation, expiration, and revoke unsafe credentials automatically.
• Attestation Integration: Devices prove their identity and firmware integrity before being trusted or segmented.
• Real-Time Alerts: Unauthorized use or credential anomalies trigger instant alerts and automated defenses.

Default credentials are still one of the easiest—and most dangerous—ways attackers breach devices. With 20% of IoT systems still compromised, it’s critical for operators and manufacturers to act now. A holistic approach—covering secure provisioning, credentials, monitoring, and segmentation—is the only way to secure the perimeter, both digital and physical.

Device Authority is here to help you replace that “1111” with a secure, scalable identity-first solution. Let’s turn your devices from liabilities into trusted assets—securely and confidently.