CVE-2021-1317 in RV016
Summary
by MITRE • 02/05/2021
Multiple vulnerabilities in the web-based management interface of Cisco Small Business RV016, RV042, RV042G, RV082, RV320, and RV325 Routers could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to inject arbitrary commands that are executed with root privileges. These 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 a targeted device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code as the root user on the underlying operating system. To exploit these vulnerabilities, an attacker would need to have valid administrator credentials on an affected device.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-1317 represents a critical command injection flaw affecting Cisco Small Business routers including models RV016, RV042, RV042G, RV082, RV320, and RV325. This vulnerability resides within the web-based management interface of these devices, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on these networking appliances. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing, allowing malicious input to be interpreted and executed as system commands. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it enables authenticated remote code execution with root privileges, effectively granting attackers complete control over the affected devices.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a well-defined attack pattern that aligns with common web application security flaws categorized under CWE-94, which describes "Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')." Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting specially designed HTTP requests that contain malicious command payloads, which are then processed by the router's web interface without proper sanitization. The authentication requirement means that an attacker must first obtain valid administrator credentials to exploit the vulnerability, but once achieved, the attack can result in complete system compromise. This type of attack follows the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059.001, "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell", though adapted for network device exploitation rather than traditional endpoint attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-1317 extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as successful exploitation can lead to complete network compromise and persistent access to affected organizations. Attackers with root-level access can modify router configurations, redirect network traffic, establish backdoors, or even use the compromised devices as launch points for further attacks within the network. The affected Cisco Small Business routers are commonly deployed in small to medium-sized business environments where they serve as critical network infrastructure components, making their compromise particularly damaging. Organizations may experience service disruption, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement throughout their network infrastructure, as these devices often serve as gateways between internal networks and external connectivity.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-1317 should prioritize immediate patching of affected devices through official Cisco security advisories and firmware updates. Network administrators should implement strict access controls and credential management policies to minimize the risk of unauthorized access, including regular credential rotation and multi-factor authentication where possible. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date network device firmware and implementing robust security monitoring for network infrastructure components. Organizations should also consider implementing network access controls and firewall rules to limit administrative access to these devices, reducing the attack surface and preventing unauthorized access to the web management interfaces. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in network infrastructure components.