CVE-2021-1170 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-2021-1170 vulnerability affects Cisco Small Business routers including RV110W, RV130, RV130W, and RV215W models, presenting a critical security risk through their web-based management interfaces. These devices operate as network gateways and security appliances in small business environments, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking persistent access to corporate networks. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the web interface components, creating exploitable pathways for authenticated remote code execution. This flaw represents a significant compromise of network security infrastructure since it allows attackers with administrative credentials to escalate privileges and gain root access to the underlying operating system. The affected devices typically run embedded operating systems that lack modern security hardening measures, making them particularly vulnerable to such exploits.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2021-1170 occurs through crafted HTTP requests sent to the vulnerable web management interface, which fail to properly sanitize user-supplied input parameters. Attackers can leverage this improper validation to inject malicious code that executes with root privileges on the device's operating system. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and falls under the broader category of command injection flaws. The attack vector requires an authenticated session, meaning that attackers must first obtain valid administrative credentials through social engineering, credential reuse, or other initial compromise techniques. Once authenticated, the attacker can manipulate various parameters within the web interface to trigger the vulnerability, potentially leading to complete device compromise and persistent backdoor access. The exploitation process typically involves sending specially crafted HTTP requests that bypass normal input filtering mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as successful exploitation can result in complete device compromise and potential network infiltration. An attacker who gains root access can modify device configurations, install persistent backdoors, monitor network traffic, and establish covert communication channels. The device reload vulnerability creates additional risk through potential denial of service conditions that could disrupt business operations. These routers often serve as the primary network gateway for small businesses, making their compromise particularly damaging. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security posture of affected organizations since the compromised devices can be used to launch attacks against internal networks, conduct man-in-the-middle attacks, or serve as pivot points for broader network infiltration. Network segmentation and monitoring systems may fail to detect malicious activity originating from compromised gateway devices.
Organizations affected by CVE-2021-1170 should immediately implement network segmentation strategies to limit the impact of potential compromises and deploy network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous traffic patterns. The lack of available vendor patches for this vulnerability necessitates alternative defensive measures including network access controls, enhanced authentication mechanisms, and comprehensive network monitoring. Security teams should consider implementing intrusion detection systems specifically configured to identify exploitation attempts targeting web management interfaces. Device administrators should review and rotate administrative credentials regularly, implement multi-factor authentication where possible, and establish strict access controls for management interfaces. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining current security patches and highlights the risks associated with legacy network equipment that may no longer receive vendor support. Organizations should also consider conducting network audits to identify all affected devices and develop incident response procedures specifically addressing compromised gateway devices. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which involves executing commands through legitimate system interfaces, and represents a classic example of privilege escalation through web application vulnerabilities.