CVE-2020-3275 in RV016
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple vulnerabilities in the web-based management interface of Cisco Small Business RV320 and RV325 Series Routers and Cisco Small Business RV016, RV042, and RV082 Routers could allow an authenticated, remote attacker with administrative privileges to execute arbitrary commands on an affected device. The vulnerabilities exist because the web-based management interface does not properly validate user-supplied input to scripts. An attacker with administrative privileges that are sufficient to log in to the web-based management interface could exploit each vulnerability by sending malicious requests to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges on the underlying operating system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/24/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-3275 represents a critical command execution flaw affecting Cisco Small Business routers including the RV320 and RV325 series as well as the RV016, RV042, and RV082 models. This vulnerability resides within the web-based management interface of these network devices, which serves as the primary administrative access point for configuring and managing router settings. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data passed to underlying scripts, creating a pathway for malicious command injection attacks.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-78 categories, specifically addressing command injection weaknesses where user input is directly incorporated into system commands without proper sanitization. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires only administrative authentication, which is often less tightly controlled than network-level access. Attackers with valid administrative credentials can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious HTTP requests that bypass normal input validation checks and directly inject command sequences into the router's operating system. This exploitation mechanism leverages the trust relationship between the web interface and the underlying system, where legitimate administrative functions become attack vectors.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-3275 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to full system compromise, as successful exploitation grants attackers root privileges on the affected devices. This level of access enables comprehensive control over network traffic, configuration changes, and potential lateral movement within the network perimeter. The vulnerability's presence in Small Business routers is particularly concerning because these devices often serve as network gateways and are deployed in environments where network security is not always prioritized. The attack surface is broad as these routers are commonly found in small to medium enterprises, home offices, and branch locations where administrative access might be less rigorously managed.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patch management, as Cisco has released firmware updates addressing this specific flaw. Organizations must ensure that administrative credentials are properly secured and that access to these management interfaces is restricted to authorized personnel only. Network segmentation and monitoring of management interface traffic can help detect anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of principle of least privilege in network administration, where administrative access should be granted only when necessary and monitored closely. Additionally, implementing network access controls and restricting direct internet access to these management interfaces can significantly reduce the attack surface. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical need for input validation and sanitization in web applications, particularly those managing critical network infrastructure components.