CVE-2021-1164 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 vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-1164 represents a critical security flaw affecting Cisco Small Business routers including the RV110W, RV130, RV130W, and RV215W models. This issue stems from insufficient input validation within the web-based management interface, creating a pathway for authenticated remote attackers to compromise the affected devices. The flaw resides in the improper handling of user-supplied input, which violates fundamental security principles and creates opportunities for privilege escalation and system manipulation. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic example of insecure input handling that can lead to severe operational consequences including arbitrary code execution and system instability.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through crafted HTTP requests sent to the affected devices, requiring only valid administrator credentials to achieve successful compromise. This authentication requirement places the vulnerability in the context of credential-based attacks rather than purely network-level exploits, though it still represents a significant threat vector. The vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code with root privileges on the underlying operating system, effectively providing complete control over the device. This privilege escalation capability, combined with the potential for device reload or denial of service conditions, creates a comprehensive attack surface that can be leveraged for both persistent compromise and disruption of network services. The weakness aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation as a fundamental security flaw that can lead to various attack vectors including code execution and system crashes.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-1164 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to encompass full system compromise and potential network infiltration. When exploited successfully, the vulnerability enables attackers to execute arbitrary commands as the root user, potentially allowing them to install backdoors, modify network configurations, or establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure. The affected devices serve as critical network components in small business environments, making their compromise particularly concerning for organizations relying on these routers for network connectivity and security. The lack of available software updates from Cisco for this vulnerability creates a significant gap in defensive measures, leaving affected organizations vulnerable to exploitation without immediate remediation options. This situation exemplifies the risks associated with unsupported or unpatched network infrastructure components.
Organizations with affected Cisco routers should implement immediate mitigations to reduce the risk of exploitation, including network segmentation, access control restrictions, and monitoring for suspicious administrative activities. The vulnerability's requirement for valid administrator credentials means that credential management practices become crucial defensive measures, including implementing strong authentication protocols, regular credential rotation, and limiting administrative access to only necessary personnel. Network administrators should consider disabling the web-based management interface when possible and relying on more secure management protocols such as SSH or HTTPS with strong authentication. The absence of official patches from Cisco highlights the importance of maintaining awareness of vendor security advisories and implementing compensating controls when vendor updates are unavailable. This vulnerability also demonstrates the critical need for regular security assessments of network infrastructure components to identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited by malicious actors.