CVE-2020-3146 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, RV130, RV130W, and RV215W series routers present a critical security vulnerability through improper input validation within their web-based management interfaces. This flaw enables authenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected devices, fundamentally compromising the security posture of network infrastructure. The vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user-supplied data, creating an attack surface that allows malicious HTTP requests to be processed without proper validation checks. These devices operate as essential network gateways, providing both wireless connectivity and VPN capabilities, making their compromise particularly dangerous for enterprise and small business environments.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages the web interface's failure to properly validate incoming HTTP requests, allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads that bypass normal security controls. When an authenticated user submits crafted requests through the management interface, the system processes these inputs without sufficient sanitization, potentially leading to command injection or code execution at the operating system level. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation as a fundamental weakness in software design that can lead to various security issues including code execution, privilege escalation, and data corruption. The attack requires only authentication credentials, making it particularly concerning since network administrators often access these interfaces remotely, potentially exposing them to credential theft or session hijacking attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as successful exploitation grants attackers elevated privileges within the device's operating system. This high-privilege execution context allows adversaries to modify network configurations, install malicious software, monitor network traffic, and potentially use the compromised device as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the network. The affected routers serve as critical network infrastructure components, making their compromise a significant threat to network availability, confidentiality, and integrity. Organizations relying on these devices for remote access, wireless connectivity, and VPN services face substantial risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and network disruption. The vulnerability affects multiple device models in the Cisco RV series, indicating a widespread issue that requires immediate attention across various network deployments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected devices through official Cisco software updates. Network administrators should implement strict access controls for web management interfaces, including limiting access to trusted IP addresses and implementing multi-factor authentication. Regular security audits of network infrastructure should include verification of device firmware versions and configuration settings to ensure proper input validation is in place. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious HTTP traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation and command execution techniques, emphasizing the need for layered security approaches that include network monitoring, intrusion detection systems, and regular vulnerability assessments to prevent successful exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing network access controls and firewall rules to restrict access to management interfaces from untrusted networks.