CVE-2021-1175 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-2021-1175 vulnerabilities affect Cisco Small Business routers including RV110W, RV130, RV130W, and RV215W models, representing a critical security flaw in their web-based management interfaces. These devices operate as network gateways and security appliances in small business environments, making them attractive targets for cybercriminals seeking to compromise network infrastructure. The vulnerabilities stem from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the web interface components, creating exploitable entry points for authenticated remote attackers who possess administrative credentials. This classification aligns with CWE-20, which identifies improper input validation as a fundamental weakness in software security architecture, particularly when dealing with user-supplied data in web applications.
The technical exploitation of these vulnerabilities occurs through carefully crafted HTTP requests that bypass normal input sanitization procedures within the router's management interface. When an attacker submits maliciously formatted requests containing specially constructed payloads, the insufficient validation allows arbitrary code execution at the root user level of the underlying operating system. This privilege escalation capability enables attackers to gain complete control over the affected devices, potentially leading to data exfiltration, network infiltration, or further lateral movement within the compromised network environment. The attack vector specifically targets the web management interface, which typically operates on standard HTTP ports, making it accessible over the network to authenticated users who have administrative privileges.
The operational impact of these vulnerabilities extends beyond simple code execution to include potential denial of service conditions through device reboots. This dual nature of the vulnerability means that attackers can either maintain persistent access through code execution or disrupt network operations through service interruption. The lack of available software updates from Cisco creates a particularly concerning scenario for affected organizations, as they cannot remediate the vulnerabilities through standard patch management procedures. This situation leaves small business networks exposed to potential compromise, with the risk of unauthorized access to network traffic, configuration changes, or complete network disruption. The vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous in environments where these routers serve as primary network gateways, as they may control access to critical business systems and data.
Organizations affected by CVE-2021-1175 should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate affected devices, enforcing strict access controls to limit administrative credentials, and monitoring network traffic for suspicious HTTP request patterns. The absence of vendor patches necessitates defensive measures such as implementing web application firewalls, restricting administrative access to specific IP addresses, and conducting thorough network audits to identify potentially compromised devices. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, these vulnerabilities map to techniques involving privilege escalation and execution through web interfaces, while also supporting lateral movement and persistence strategies that attackers might employ once initial access is gained. The threat landscape for such vulnerabilities demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against exploitation of known vulnerabilities in network infrastructure devices.