CVE-2021-1202 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-2021-1202 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 to compromise network infrastructure. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the web interface, creating pathways for malicious actors to manipulate the system through carefully crafted HTTP requests. This flaw directly violates security principles established in the OWASP Top Ten and aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation as a fundamental weakness in software applications.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to possess valid administrator credentials, establishing a privileged access requirement that limits the attack surface but does not eliminate the risk. Once authenticated, an attacker can submit malicious HTTP requests that bypass normal input sanitization processes, allowing for arbitrary code execution with root-level privileges on the underlying operating system. This privilege escalation capability enables attackers to gain complete control over the device, potentially leading to data exfiltration, network reconnaissance, or the establishment of persistent backdoors. The vulnerability also permits denial of service conditions through device reloads, disrupting network connectivity for legitimate users and potentially causing business interruption.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-1202 extends beyond immediate system compromise, as these routers serve as critical network infrastructure components in small business environments. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could establish persistent access points within networks, potentially enabling lateral movement to connected systems or integration with broader attack campaigns. The lack of available software updates from Cisco creates a significant risk for affected organizations, as they cannot remediate the vulnerability through standard patch management procedures. This vulnerability particularly aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and persistent access, as it allows attackers to maintain control over network infrastructure and potentially expand their attack surface.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate these devices from critical systems, enforcing strict access controls with strong authentication mechanisms, and monitoring network traffic for suspicious HTTP request patterns. Network administrators should consider disabling web-based management interfaces when possible and rely on secure protocols such as SSH or HTTPS with strong encryption. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation testing and security code reviews, particularly in network infrastructure devices where the consequences of exploitation can be severe. Organizations should also establish incident response procedures to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability's impact could be difficult to detect without proper monitoring and logging mechanisms in place.