CVE-2018-0424 in RV110W
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of the Cisco RV110W Wireless-N VPN Firewall, Cisco RV130W Wireless-N Multifunction VPN Router, and Cisco RV215W Wireless-N VPN Router could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands. The vulnerability is due to improper validation of user-supplied input to scripts by the web-based management interface. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending malicious requests to a targeted device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the root user.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/22/2023
This vulnerability resides in the web-based management interface of several Cisco wireless VPN routers including the RV110W, RV130W, and RV215W models. The flaw represents a classic command injection vulnerability that stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the router's web interface scripting components. The vulnerability is classified as a CWE-77 command injection weakness, where user-supplied data is improperly processed and executed without sufficient sanitization or validation. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious HTTP requests that contain specially formatted input designed to bypass the normal validation checks implemented by the device's web management interface.
The technical exploitation occurs when an authenticated attacker sends crafted requests to the affected devices, leveraging the improper input validation to inject malicious commands into the underlying system scripts. This vulnerability specifically affects the router's web-based management interface which handles administrative functions through HTTP requests, making it accessible over the network. The attack vector requires prior authentication since the vulnerability only affects authenticated users who have access to the web management interface. However, once authenticated, the attacker can leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges, effectively compromising the entire device and potentially the network it protects.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows full system compromise with root-level privileges, enabling attackers to gain complete control over the affected routers. This includes the ability to modify network configurations, establish backdoors, monitor network traffic, and potentially use the compromised devices as launching points for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability affects network security posture significantly since these devices typically serve as gateways between internal networks and external internet access, making them prime targets for attackers seeking persistent access. Organizations using these devices face risks of data exfiltration, man-in-the-middle attacks, and disruption of network services.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate firmware updates from Cisco to address the command injection vulnerability, as the vendor has released patches specifically designed to correct the improper input validation. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of these devices to untrusted networks, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect anomalous traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Administrative access to these devices should be restricted to authorized personnel only, and multi-factor authentication should be implemented where possible. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 command and scripting interpreter for executing malicious commands, and T1068 local privilege escalation for gaining root access. Organizations should also consider implementing network access control policies that restrict direct web management access to these devices from external networks, reducing the attack surface for remote exploitation attempts.