CVE-2020-3144 in RV110W
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of the Cisco RV110W Wireless-N VPN Firewall, RV130 VPN Router, RV130W Wireless-N Multifunction VPN Router, and RV215W Wireless-N VPN Router could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to bypass authentication and execute arbitrary commands with administrative commands on an affected device. The vulnerability is due to improper session management on affected devices. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted HTTP request to the affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to gain administrative access on the affected device.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/04/2020
This vulnerability exists in Cisco's line of small office and home office networking equipment including the RV110W, RV130, RV130W, and RV215W routers and firewalls. The flaw stems from inadequate session management mechanisms within the web-based administration interface, creating a critical security gap that allows unauthenticated remote code execution. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects multiple device models from the same product line, indicating a systemic architectural issue rather than an isolated defect.
The technical exploitation occurs through improper handling of HTTP requests within the web interface's session management system. When an attacker sends a specially crafted HTTP request to the affected device, the system fails to properly validate authentication state or session tokens. This weakness allows the attacker to bypass the normal authentication process entirely, enabling direct execution of administrative commands without requiring valid credentials. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the web interface's failure to maintain proper session state integrity, which is classified as a weakness under CWE-613.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with complete administrative control over affected devices. Once exploited, an attacker can modify firewall rules, change network configurations, access all connected devices, and potentially establish persistent backdoors. This type of attack aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and script interpreter and T1021.001 for remote services, as the attacker gains the ability to execute arbitrary commands and maintain remote access. The vulnerability essentially transforms the network perimeter into a compromised entry point that can be used for further lateral movement and data exfiltration within the network.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling the web-based management interface when not actively required, implementing network segmentation to isolate affected devices, and applying the latest Cisco security patches. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious HTTP requests targeting the web interface, and access controls should be strengthened through the use of VPNs for administrative access. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper session management as outlined in OWASP Top 10 A07:2021 and should be addressed through comprehensive security testing of web applications and interfaces. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network access control lists to restrict direct access to management interfaces from untrusted networks, as this vulnerability could be exploited from any network location without authentication requirements.