CVE-2021-1168 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-2021-1168 vulnerability affects Cisco Small Business routers including RV110W, RV130, RV130W, and RV215W models, representing a critical security flaw in their web-based management interfaces. These devices are commonly deployed in small office environments where they serve as primary network gateways, making them attractive targets for cybercriminals seeking persistent access to corporate networks. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the web interface, creating pathways for malicious actors to manipulate the system through carefully crafted HTTP requests. This weakness aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation as a fundamental security flaw that can lead to various exploitation vectors including code execution and system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to possess valid administrator credentials, establishing a baseline authentication requirement that limits the attack surface but does not eliminate the risk entirely. Once authenticated, the attacker can send malicious HTTP requests that bypass input sanitization checks, allowing arbitrary code execution with root privileges on the underlying operating system. This privilege escalation capability enables attackers to gain complete control over the affected device, potentially using it as a foothold for further network infiltration or as a pivot point for attacking other connected systems. The vulnerability can also trigger unexpected device restarts, creating denial of service conditions that disrupt network operations and may be used as part of broader attack campaigns.
From an operational perspective, the impact of CVE-2021-1168 extends beyond simple system compromise, as these routers typically serve as the first line of defense in small business networks. The exploitation can result in complete network isolation, data exfiltration capabilities, or the establishment of persistent backdoors within the organization's infrastructure. The lack of available software updates from Cisco for this vulnerability creates a particularly concerning scenario where organizations must rely on network segmentation, access control measures, and other defensive strategies to protect against potential exploitation. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and execution tactics, where compromised credentials can lead to system-level control.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network access controls to limit administrative access to these devices, regular credential rotation, and monitoring for unusual network activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and input validation in web applications, particularly in network infrastructure devices where the consequences of exploitation can be severe. Given the absence of vendor patches, organizations must rely on network-level protections and operational security measures to reduce the risk exposure while planning for eventual device replacement or firmware upgrades when available. The vulnerability also highlights the need for comprehensive security assessments of network infrastructure components to identify similar weaknesses that could be exploited in similar fashion.