CVE-2021-1181 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-2021-1181 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 operate as network gateways and security appliances in small business environments, making them attractive targets for cybercriminals seeking persistent access to corporate networks. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the web interface, creating a pathway for authenticated remote code execution attacks that could compromise the entire network infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the improper handling of user-supplied input through HTTP requests sent to the affected management interfaces. This flaw aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation as a fundamental weakness in software security design. Attackers can exploit this by crafting specially designed HTTP requests that bypass authentication checks and manipulate the underlying operating system. The vulnerability specifically targets the input validation mechanisms that should prevent malicious data from being processed by the router's operating system, allowing attackers with valid administrator credentials to escalate privileges and execute commands with root-level access.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-1181 extends beyond simple code execution to include potential denial of service conditions that could disrupt business operations. When exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to cause unexpected device reboots, creating a persistent DoS condition that could go unnoticed for extended periods. This disruption could be particularly damaging in environments where continuous network availability is critical for business operations. The attack vector requires only valid administrative credentials, which makes these vulnerabilities particularly dangerous as they can be exploited by insiders or compromised administrators. The lack of available patches from Cisco compounds the risk, leaving affected organizations without official remediation options and forcing them to implement workarounds or network segmentation measures.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should consider implementing network segmentation strategies to isolate these devices from critical network segments, while also establishing monitoring protocols to detect unusual traffic patterns or unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of principle of least privilege in network security, where administrative access should be tightly controlled and monitored. Security teams should implement intrusion detection systems capable of identifying crafted HTTP requests that attempt to exploit input validation flaws, and consider implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious requests before they reach the vulnerable interfaces. The absence of official patches underscores the need for organizations to maintain alternative security measures including network monitoring, access control reviews, and regular security assessments to identify and mitigate similar vulnerabilities in their network infrastructure.