CVE-2021-1177 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-2021-1177 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 are commonly deployed in small business environments where they serve as the primary point of network access control and management. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the web interface, creating a pathway for authenticated remote code execution attacks. This flaw specifically targets the handling of user-supplied data in HTTP request processing, where the system fails to properly sanitize or validate incoming parameters before processing them within the underlying operating system.
The technical exploitation of these vulnerabilities occurs through crafted HTTP requests that manipulate the web interface's input handling mechanisms. When an authenticated attacker submits maliciously constructed requests to the affected devices, the improper input validation allows arbitrary code to be executed with root privileges on the underlying operating system. This privilege escalation capability means that attackers can gain complete control over the router's functionality, potentially enabling them to modify network configurations, intercept traffic, or establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability also presents a denial of service risk where successful exploitation could cause the device to reload unexpectedly, disrupting network connectivity for users and services dependent on the affected router.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-1177 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass significant network security implications for small business environments. These routers typically serve as the first line of defense in network security, controlling access to internal resources and implementing various security policies. An attacker who successfully exploits these vulnerabilities can effectively compromise the entire network infrastructure, as routers often maintain privileged access to network resources and can be used as launch points for further attacks against internal systems. The requirement for valid administrator credentials means that these vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous in environments where credential security practices are inadequate or where administrative accounts have been compromised through other means.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and command execution. The lack of available software updates from Cisco creates an especially concerning scenario for affected organizations, as they must either implement workarounds or accept the risk of exploitation. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation to limit access to these devices, enforcing strict access controls, and monitoring for suspicious HTTP traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and vulnerability management processes, particularly for network infrastructure devices that may not receive timely security updates from vendors. Given the nature of these devices in small business environments where IT resources may be limited, the risk assessment should include consideration of potential supply chain compromises and the need for alternative security controls to protect against unauthorized access to network management interfaces.