CVE-2019-1897 in RV110W
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco RV110W, RV130W, and RV215W Routers could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to disconnect clients that are connected to the guest network on an affected router. The vulnerability is due to improper authorization of an HTTP request. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by accessing the URL for device disconnection and providing the connected device information. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to deny service to specific clients that are connected to the guest network.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-1897 affects Cisco RV110W, RV130W, and RV215W wireless routers, representing a critical security flaw in the web-based management interface of these network devices. This issue stems from improper authorization mechanisms within the HTTP request processing, creating a pathway for unauthenticated remote attackers to exploit the system. The vulnerability specifically targets the guest network functionality of these routers, which are commonly deployed in small office and home office environments where guest access is frequently required. The affected devices are designed to provide network connectivity and management capabilities while maintaining separate guest and administrative networks, but this particular flaw undermines the security boundaries between these network segments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the web interface's lack of proper authentication checks for specific administrative functions. When an attacker accesses the designated URL endpoint responsible for disconnecting network clients, the system fails to verify whether the requester possesses legitimate authorization to perform this action. This authorization bypass allows any remote user to craft malicious HTTP requests that target connected devices on the guest network, effectively enabling a denial-of-service attack against specific client connections. The flaw operates at the application layer and leverages the absence of input validation and access control enforcement within the router's web management interface. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-285: Improper Authorization, which specifically addresses situations where the system fails to properly enforce access controls for privileged operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-1897 extends beyond simple network disruption, as it creates opportunities for attackers to systematically target specific users on guest networks while maintaining operational anonymity. This vulnerability enables attackers to perform selective service disruption against individual clients, potentially causing significant inconvenience to legitimate users while remaining undetected by network administrators. The attack vector requires minimal technical expertise, as the exploit can be executed through standard web browser interaction with the vulnerable URL endpoint. The affected routers typically serve environments where guest users connect for internet access, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to target innocent users who may be conducting sensitive business activities or personal communications. The vulnerability's remote nature eliminates the need for physical access or local network presence, making it accessible to attackers anywhere with internet connectivity.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, where it aligns with the T1499 technique related to Network Denial of Service and potentially connects to T1071 for application layer protocol usage. The vulnerability demonstrates how weak access controls in network infrastructure devices can create persistent security risks that compromise availability and service integrity. Organizations using these specific router models should immediately implement mitigations including network segmentation, firewall rule restrictions, and access control configuration changes to prevent unauthorized access to the management interfaces. The recommended remediation involves applying Cisco's official security patches, implementing strong authentication measures, and configuring network access controls to restrict access to the management interface to trusted administrative networks only. Additionally, network administrators should consider disabling guest network functionality if it is not required, as this eliminates the attack surface entirely while maintaining overall network security posture.