CVE-2018-0127 in RV132W
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web interface of Cisco RV132W ADSL2+ Wireless-N VPN Routers and Cisco RV134W VDSL2 Wireless-AC VPN Routers could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to view configuration parameters for an affected device, which could lead to the disclosure of confidential information. The vulnerability is due to the absence of user authentication requirements for certain pages that are part of the web interface and contain confidential information for an affected device. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted HTTP request to an affected device and examining the HTTP response to the request. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to view configuration parameters, including the administrator password, for the affected device. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvg92739, CSCvh60172.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/02/2021
This vulnerability exists within the web interface of Cisco RV132W and RV134W wireless VPN routers, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the fundamental principle of authentication in network device management. The vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls that fail to enforce proper authentication mechanisms for specific administrative pages within the device's web interface. According to the Common Weakness Enumeration standard, this corresponds to weakness type CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in network services. The flaw allows unauthenticated remote attackers to access sensitive configuration data through simple HTTP requests, bypassing the normal authentication requirements that should protect administrative interfaces. This represents a significant deviation from secure coding practices and network security best practices that require mandatory authentication for all administrative functions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves crafting specific HTTP requests that target pages within the router's web interface containing confidential information. Attackers can send these requests without prior authentication and receive HTTP responses that reveal sensitive configuration parameters including administrator passwords and other critical device settings. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the application layer of the network stack, where web-based management interfaces are typically protected by session management and authentication protocols. The absence of proper access control checks means that any remote user can potentially access these pages, making the exploitation trivial and requiring no specialized tools or privileges. This aligns with the ATT&CK framework's technique T1078, which covers legitimate credentials use through valid accounts, though in this case the vulnerability allows access without valid credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with complete administrative access to the affected devices. When an attacker can obtain the administrator password through this vulnerability, they gain full control over the router's configuration, including the ability to modify firewall rules, change network settings, install malicious firmware, or redirect network traffic. This compromises the integrity and confidentiality of all network communications passing through the device, potentially allowing for man-in-the-middle attacks, data exfiltration, or the creation of backdoors within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects both ADSL2+ and VDSL2 wireless VPN routers, indicating a widespread impact across multiple product lines and potentially affecting numerous enterprise and home network deployments. The exposure of administrator credentials through this flaw undermines the trust model of the network infrastructure and creates opportunities for lateral movement within compromised networks.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Cisco security patches and firmware updates that address the authentication bypass issue. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to these devices from untrusted networks, while also disabling unnecessary web management interfaces when possible. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security assessments and the need for robust access control mechanisms in network infrastructure devices. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual HTTP requests targeting administrative interfaces, and network administrators should conduct thorough inventory checks to identify all affected devices within their network infrastructure. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network access control lists and restricting remote management access to trusted IP addresses only, as recommended by the NIST Cybersecurity Framework for protecting critical network infrastructure components.