CVE-2020-3279 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.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/24/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-3279 affects Cisco Small Business routers including the RV320 and RV325 series as well as the RV016 RV042 and RV082 models. These devices operate within small business environments where they serve as critical network infrastructure components managing routing and firewall functions. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the web-based management interface of these devices, creating a pathway for command injection attacks. This flaw represents a significant security weakness because it allows authenticated attackers with administrative privileges to escalate their access and execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system. The attack vector requires an attacker to already possess administrative credentials, but the vulnerability itself enables full system compromise with root privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories, representing command injection and code injection flaws respectively. These weaknesses occur when user-supplied input is not properly sanitized before being processed by the web interface scripts. The affected routers use a web-based management interface that processes HTTP requests containing user input without adequate validation or sanitization mechanisms. When an authenticated attacker sends malicious requests containing specially crafted payloads to the vulnerable interface, the system fails to properly validate the input and subsequently executes the malicious commands with the highest system privileges available. This design flaw allows attackers to bypass normal security controls and gain complete control over the router's operating system.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-3279 is severe and potentially devastating for affected organizations. Once exploited, attackers can execute arbitrary commands with root privileges, enabling them to modify router configurations, install backdoors, redirect network traffic, or establish persistent access to the network. The vulnerability essentially transforms the router from a security control into an attack vector, potentially allowing attackers to compromise the entire network infrastructure. Organizations using these routers may experience unauthorized access to their network resources, data exfiltration, or disruption of network services. The attack requires only administrative credentials, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrative access is not properly restricted or where credentials may be compromised through other means.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-3279 should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. Cisco has released patches and firmware updates addressing this vulnerability, which organizations should deploy immediately. Network administrators should ensure that all affected devices are updated to the latest firmware versions available from Cisco. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls can limit the impact of potential exploitation by restricting administrative access to only necessary personnel. The use of network monitoring tools can help detect suspicious activities that may indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative access and regularly auditing administrative credentials. According to ATT&CK framework category T1059 command and scripting interpreter techniques should be monitored as potential indicators of exploitation, while T1078 legitimate credentials and T1566 credential access techniques may be relevant for understanding how attackers might obtain the necessary administrative privileges to exploit this vulnerability.