CVE-2021-1162 in Small Business
Summary
by MITRE • 01/14/2021
Multiple vulnerabilities in the web-based management interface of Cisco Small Business RV110W, RV130, RV130W, and RV215W Routers could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary code or cause an affected device to restart unexpectedly. The vulnerabilities are due to improper validation of user-supplied input in the web-based management interface. An attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities by sending crafted HTTP requests to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code as the root user on the underlying operating system or cause the device to reload, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition. To exploit these vulnerabilities, an attacker would need to have valid administrator credentials on the affected device. Cisco has not released software updates that address these vulnerabilities.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/13/2021
The CVE-2021-1162 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw affecting Cisco Small Business routers including the RV110W, RV130, RV130W, and RV215W models. This vulnerability exists within the web-based management interface of these devices, creating a significant attack surface that could be exploited by authenticated remote attackers. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing, allowing malicious inputs to bypass normal security controls and potentially execute unauthorized operations on the underlying operating system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper validation of user-supplied input within the web interface components of these routers. When an attacker crafts specific HTTP requests containing malicious payloads and submits them through the web management interface, the system fails to adequately validate the input parameters. This validation failure creates opportunities for command injection attacks where crafted inputs can be interpreted and executed by the router's operating system. The vulnerability specifically affects the authentication process and subsequent request handling within the web interface, making it particularly dangerous as it requires only valid administrator credentials to exploit, which are often weaker than expected in small business environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to include potential denial of service conditions through device restarts. An attacker with valid administrative credentials could cause the affected device to reload unexpectedly, disrupting network connectivity for all connected devices and potentially causing extended outages. The ability to execute arbitrary code as the root user on the underlying operating system provides attackers with complete control over the device, enabling them to modify network configurations, install persistent backdoors, or extract sensitive information from the router's memory. This level of compromise represents a severe threat to small business network security, as these devices often serve as critical entry points for corporate networks.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation) and represents a classic example of how insufficient sanitization of user inputs can lead to remote code execution. The attack pattern follows the MITRE ATT&CK framework's T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) and T1021.001 (Remote Services: Remote Desktop Protocol) techniques, though adapted for router interfaces. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of implementing defense-in-depth strategies, as even authenticated access can be leveraged for devastating consequences. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces, enforce strong authentication mechanisms, and monitor for unusual administrative activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The lack of available software updates from Cisco for this vulnerability means that affected organizations must rely on network-level mitigations and operational security measures to protect against potential exploitation.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the ongoing challenges in securing IoT and network infrastructure devices. Small business routers often receive minimal security attention compared to enterprise systems, yet they frequently serve as critical network components with elevated privileges. This vulnerability underscores the need for comprehensive vulnerability management programs that include not just patching but also network monitoring, access control reviews, and security awareness training for administrators who may be using these devices. The exploitation potential of such vulnerabilities emphasizes the importance of maintaining current threat intelligence and implementing proactive security measures to protect against known attack patterns before they can be weaponized by threat actors.