CVE-2020-3268 in RV110W
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple vulnerabilities in the web-based management interface of Cisco RV110W, RV130, RV130W, and RV215W Series Routers could allow an authenticated, remote attacker with administrative privileges to execute arbitrary commands. For more information about these vulnerabilities, see the Details section of this advisory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/24/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-3268 represents a critical command execution flaw affecting Cisco's small business router series including RV110W, RV130, RV130W, and RV215W models. This vulnerability exists within the web-based management interface of these devices, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on these networking appliances. The flaw allows an authenticated attacker with administrative privileges to execute arbitrary commands on the affected systems, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to network resources. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the router's web interface, specifically in how it handles certain parameters during configuration updates and management operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a command injection flaw that occurs when the device processes user-supplied input through its web management interface. When an authenticated administrator performs certain administrative operations, the system fails to properly sanitize input parameters before using them in system commands. This weakness enables an attacker who has already gained administrative access to manipulate the device's behavior by injecting malicious commands that get executed with the privileges of the web server process. The vulnerability is classified as a command injection issue that aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-88, which specifically address improper neutralization of special elements used in commands. The attack vector requires the attacker to already possess administrative credentials, making this a privilege escalation vulnerability rather than a direct remote code execution flaw.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-3268 extends beyond simple command execution, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected routers. This control enables malicious actors to modify network configurations, redirect traffic, establish backdoors, or use the compromised devices as launching points for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on these specific router models for their network infrastructure, potentially compromising network security and integrity. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, making it a particularly dangerous flaw in enterprise environments where these devices are commonly deployed.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through Cisco's official security patches and updates. The recommended mitigation strategy involves applying the latest firmware versions that address the command injection flaw in the web management interface. Network administrators should also implement additional security controls such as network segmentation, access control lists, and monitoring for unusual administrative activities. Regular security assessments should be conducted to identify unauthorized access attempts and ensure that administrative credentials remain secure. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output encoding in web applications, reinforcing industry best practices outlined in OWASP Top 10 and NIST guidelines for secure coding practices. Organizations should also consider implementing network access controls to limit administrative access to these devices and establish multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts to reduce the risk of unauthorized access.