CVE-2019-1828 in Small Business RV320
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Small Business RV320 and RV325 Dual Gigabit WAN VPN Routers could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to access administrative credentials. The vulnerability exists because affected devices use weak encryption algorithms for user credentials. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by conducting a man-in-the-middle attack and decrypting intercepted credentials. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to gain access to an affected device with administrator privileges. This vulnerability affects Cisco Small Business RV320 and RV325 Dual Gigabit WAN VPN Routers running firmware releases prior to 1.4.2.22.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/27/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-1828 represents a critical security flaw in Cisco Small Business RV320 and RV325 Dual Gigabit WAN VPN Routers that exposes administrative credentials to unauthenticated remote attackers. This weakness resides within the web-based management interface of these network devices, which are commonly deployed in small business environments to provide secure remote access and network connectivity. The vulnerability stems from the use of outdated and insufficiently strong encryption algorithms for credential storage and transmission, creating an exploitable gap that adversaries can leverage to gain unauthorized administrative access to the affected systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the cryptographic practices employed by Cisco in these devices. The weak encryption algorithms used for user credentials make it feasible for attackers to intercept network traffic and perform decryption operations to recover administrative login information. This weakness specifically manifests during the transmission of credentials between the management interface and remote users, where the encryption standards are inadequate for modern security requirements. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires no authentication from the attacker, making it a classic example of an unauthenticated remote code execution or privilege escalation vulnerability. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-327, which addresses the use of weak cryptographic algorithms, and CWE-310, which covers cryptographic issues related to key management and implementation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as successful exploitation provides attackers with full administrative privileges on the affected routers. This elevated access allows malicious actors to modify network configurations, implement unauthorized network policies, redirect traffic, and potentially establish persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. The implications are particularly severe in small business environments where these devices often serve as the primary gateway for remote access and network security enforcement. Attackers could leverage this access to conduct man-in-the-middle attacks, monitor network traffic, or pivot to other systems within the network perimeter. The vulnerability's impact aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers legitimate credentials and default credentials, and T1566, which addresses credential harvesting through various attack vectors including network sniffing and man-in-the-middle techniques.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-1828 primarily focus on firmware updates and network security enhancements. Cisco has released firmware version 1.4.2.22 and later to address this vulnerability, making it essential for network administrators to upgrade affected devices immediately. Additionally, implementing network segmentation, deploying intrusion detection systems, and monitoring for unusual network traffic patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider network access controls, such as restricting access to the management interface from specific IP addresses and implementing multi-factor authentication where possible. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date firmware and adhering to security best practices for network infrastructure devices, particularly those with web-based management interfaces that handle sensitive administrative credentials.