CVE-2021-1210 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 • 02/14/2021
The CVE-2021-1210 vulnerability affects Cisco Small Business routers including RV110W, RV130, RV130W, and RV215W models, presenting critical security risks through 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 administration and security control. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the web interface, creating a pathway for authenticated remote code execution and denial of service conditions that could severely compromise network infrastructure integrity.
The technical flaw manifests through improper validation of user-supplied input in the web-based management interface, which represents a classic security weakness categorized under CWE-20 - Improper Input Validation. This vulnerability allows attackers to craft malicious HTTP requests that bypass normal input sanitization checks, enabling exploitation of buffer overflows, command injection, or other code execution vectors. The authentication requirement means that an attacker must first obtain valid administrator credentials, typically through social engineering, credential theft, or prior exploitation of other vulnerabilities, before being able to leverage this specific weakness.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-1210 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass complete system compromise and network disruption. Successful exploitation enables attackers to execute arbitrary code with root privileges on the underlying operating system, effectively granting them complete control over the router's functionality. This includes the ability to modify routing tables, intercept network traffic, establish backdoor access, or disable security features. Additionally, the vulnerability can cause unexpected device reboots, leading to denial of service conditions that can disrupt business operations and potentially create attack windows during recovery periods.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-1210 should prioritize immediate credential security measures and network segmentation approaches. Organizations must enforce strong authentication practices including multi-factor authentication, regular credential rotation, and privileged access management controls. Network administrators should implement strict access controls limiting web interface access to trusted IP addresses and consider disabling web management interfaces entirely in favor of more secure command-line interfaces or dedicated management protocols. The lack of official software updates from Cisco for these affected models necessitates alternative defensive measures such as network monitoring for suspicious HTTP traffic patterns and implementing intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell, as the exploitation involves crafting HTTP requests to execute code on the target system. Organizations should also consider the broader implications of unpatched embedded devices in their networks and implement comprehensive vulnerability management programs that account for legacy and unsupported equipment. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining current security patches and the risks associated with relying on outdated network infrastructure in enterprise environments.