CVE-2020-3145 in RV110W
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple vulnerabilities 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 authenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on an affected device. The vulnerabilities are due to improper validation of user-supplied data in the web-based management interface. An attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities by sending malicious HTTP requests to a targeted device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code on the underlying operating system of the affected device as a high-privilege user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/04/2020
The Cisco RV110W Wireless-N VPN Firewall, RV130 VPN Router, RV130W Wireless-N Multifunction VPN Router, and RV215W Wireless-N VPN Router models present a critical security vulnerability categorized as CVE-2020-3145. This vulnerability exists within the web-based management interface of these network devices, creating a pathway for authenticated remote attackers to gain elevated privileges and execute arbitrary code on the affected systems. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data, allowing malicious payloads to be processed by the underlying operating system. These devices operate as essential network infrastructure components that provide firewall protection, VPN connectivity, and wireless networking capabilities, making their compromise particularly dangerous for enterprise and small business environments.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through carefully crafted HTTP requests sent to the targeted device's web interface. The improper validation of user-supplied data creates a code injection vulnerability that allows an attacker with valid credentials to manipulate the device's processing logic. When the web interface receives malformed input, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize the data before processing, enabling the execution of arbitrary commands with high privilege levels. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation as a fundamental weakness in software security. The attack vector requires authentication, meaning an attacker must first obtain valid login credentials, but once achieved, the impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access to full system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-3145 represents a severe threat to network security infrastructure, as successful exploitation provides attackers with complete control over the affected routers. An attacker with high-privilege access can modify firewall rules, establish persistent backdoors, redirect network traffic, or use the compromised device as a launching point for attacks against other network segments. The vulnerability affects multiple router models in the Cisco RV series, suggesting a widespread exposure across various network environments. This compromise undermines the fundamental security posture of organizations relying on these devices for network protection, as the attackers can potentially intercept, modify, or block network communications while remaining undetected. The attack aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter, as the vulnerability enables arbitrary code execution through command injection.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches provided by Cisco, which address the input validation flaws in the web interface. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit the scope of potential exploitation, particularly restricting access to the web management interface to authorized personnel only. Regular monitoring of network traffic for suspicious HTTP requests and implementing intrusion detection systems can help identify exploitation attempts. Additionally, administrators should enforce strong authentication mechanisms including multi-factor authentication and regularly rotate credentials to minimize the risk of unauthorized access. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of validating all user inputs in web applications and highlights the need for robust security testing practices to identify similar flaws in network infrastructure devices.