CVE-2021-1216 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-2021-1216 vulnerability affects Cisco Small Business routers including RV110W, RV130, RV130W, and RV215W models, presenting a critical security risk through their web-based management interfaces. These devices operate with embedded operating systems that handle administrative functions through HTTP-based web portals, making them susceptible to injection attacks when user inputs are not properly validated. The vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of HTTP request parameters, creating potential entry points for malicious actors who can manipulate the system through crafted requests.
The technical flaw manifests as improper input validation within the router's web management interface, specifically failing to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing. This weakness aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation as a fundamental security issue where applications fail to validate or sanitize input data. Attackers can exploit this by crafting HTTP requests that contain malicious payloads, bypassing authentication mechanisms that require valid administrator credentials. The vulnerability allows for privilege escalation to root level execution, enabling attackers to run arbitrary code on the underlying operating system with complete administrative control. This represents a severe compromise of the device's security posture and potentially the entire network segment it serves.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to include potential denial of service conditions through device reloads. When exploited, attackers can cause unexpected system restarts that disrupt network connectivity and availability, creating cascading effects throughout the organization's network infrastructure. The requirement for valid administrator credentials limits the attack surface but does not eliminate the risk, as credential theft, social engineering, or insider threats can still provide attackers with the necessary access. Organizations using these routers face significant exposure to both persistent threats and opportunistic attacks that could compromise their network security.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate administrative actions including disabling the web management interface when not actively needed, implementing network segmentation to limit access to these devices, and establishing strict access controls with strong authentication mechanisms. Organizations should also consider deploying network monitoring tools to detect anomalous HTTP traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, indicating the need for comprehensive endpoint detection and response capabilities. The lack of official software updates from Cisco for these specific devices necessitates additional defensive measures such as network access controls, regular vulnerability assessments, and implementation of alternative management protocols that do not expose the vulnerable web interface to external networks.