CVE-2021-1203 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.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/13/2021
The Cisco Small Business RV110W, RV130, RV130W, and RV215W routers present a critical security vulnerability classified as CVE-2021-1203 that stems from insufficient input validation within their web-based management interfaces. This vulnerability represents a classic example of improper input validation that allows attackers to manipulate the device's operational behavior through crafted HTTP requests. The affected devices operate with a web interface that handles user-supplied data without adequate sanitization or verification mechanisms, creating an attack surface where malicious inputs can be processed directly by the underlying operating system. The vulnerability specifically affects the authentication and authorization mechanisms of these network devices, which are designed to provide administrative access to network configuration and management functions.
The technical flaw manifests in the form of inadequate sanitization of HTTP request parameters that are processed by the router's web management interface. When an authenticated administrator submits requests containing maliciously crafted input, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize these inputs before processing them within the device's operating system context. This weakness directly maps to CWE-20, which describes improper input validation as a fundamental security flaw that can lead to various attack vectors including command injection, code execution, and system compromise. The vulnerability allows an attacker with valid administrator credentials to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code with root-level permissions, effectively gaining complete control over the device's operational environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to include potential denial of service conditions through device reboots. An attacker could exploit the vulnerability to cause unexpected system restarts, disrupting network connectivity and potentially leading to extended downtime for the affected network infrastructure. The ability to execute arbitrary code as the root user represents a severe compromise of network security, as it allows attackers to modify device configurations, install malicious software, or establish persistent access points within the network environment. This vulnerability particularly affects small business networks where these routers are commonly deployed, potentially exposing entire network infrastructures to unauthorized access and manipulation.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces, strict firewall rules to restrict access to management ports, and enhanced monitoring of network traffic for suspicious HTTP requests. The lack of official software updates from Cisco for this vulnerability necessitates the implementation of workarounds such as disabling unnecessary web management interfaces, implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative access, and conducting regular security audits of network device configurations. According to ATT&CK framework category T1059, this vulnerability enables command and scripting interpreter techniques that allow attackers to execute arbitrary code, while T1499 covers the denial of service attack patterns that can be executed through device restarts. Network administrators should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures to address potential compromise of these critical network devices.