CVE-2021-1169 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-2021-1169 represents a critical security flaw affecting Cisco Small Business routers including models RV110W, RV130, RV130W, and RV215W. These devices operate within small office and home environments where they serve as primary network gateways, making them attractive targets for cyber adversaries seeking persistent access to corporate networks. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the web-based management interface, creating a pathway for authenticated remote code execution attacks. This flaw falls under the CWE-20 category of "Improper Input Validation" which is a fundamental weakness in software design that allows malicious data to bypass security checks and potentially compromise system integrity. The attack vector requires an attacker to possess valid administrator credentials, making this vulnerability particularly concerning as it represents a privilege escalation issue rather than an initial access point.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2021-1169 occurs through the manipulation of HTTP requests sent to the affected devices' web management interfaces. When an authenticated attacker crafts malicious HTTP requests containing specially formatted input, the vulnerable router fails to properly validate this data before processing it within the underlying operating system. This improper validation allows the attacker to inject commands that execute with root privileges, effectively providing complete control over the device's operating system. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond mere code execution to include potential denial of service conditions through device reloading, which can disrupt network connectivity for extended periods. The lack of available software updates from Cisco for this specific vulnerability means that affected organizations cannot rely on vendor-provided patches, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation by threat actors who may have already discovered and weaponized this flaw. The attack surface is further expanded by the widespread deployment of these router models in environments where network monitoring and security controls may be insufficient to detect malicious activity.
Organizations utilizing these affected Cisco routers face significant operational risks from CVE-2021-1169, particularly in environments where network segmentation and monitoring are inadequate. The ability to execute arbitrary code as root user on the underlying operating system creates opportunities for persistent threat presence, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within network infrastructures. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to multiple techniques including T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that these routers often serve as network gateways for small businesses and home offices, making them prime targets for initial compromise and subsequent attack progression. Network administrators must consider the broader implications of this vulnerability, as it can enable attackers to establish backdoors, modify network configurations, or redirect traffic to malicious servers. The absence of vendor patches for this specific vulnerability means that organizations must implement alternative defensive measures to protect against exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-1169 should focus on network segmentation and access control measures to limit the potential impact of exploitation. Organizations should implement strict network monitoring to detect unusual HTTP traffic patterns or unauthorized access attempts to router management interfaces. The use of network access control lists and firewall rules can help restrict access to these management interfaces to only trusted IP addresses and administrative workstations. Regular security audits should be conducted to ensure that administrator credentials remain secure and that access controls are properly configured. Additionally, implementing network intrusion detection systems can help identify potential exploitation attempts through monitoring of HTTP request patterns and unusual command execution. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication for router management interfaces when possible, and establish strict credential rotation policies. The lack of available patches necessitates a proactive security posture where network administrators continuously monitor threat intelligence feeds for any developments regarding this vulnerability and prepare incident response plans that account for potential exploitation scenarios.