CVE-2021-1325 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 execute arbitrary code or cause an affected device to restart unexpectedly. 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 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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2021
The CVE-2021-1325 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw affecting multiple Cisco Small Business routers including RV016 RV042 RV042G RV082 RV320 and RV325 models. This vulnerability exists within the web-based management interface of these devices and demonstrates a fundamental flaw in input validation mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from improper validation of user-supplied input which creates a pathway for malicious exploitation. According to the CWE taxonomy this corresponds to CWE-20 which specifically addresses "Improper Input Validation" and represents one of the most common and dangerous categories of software vulnerabilities. The affected devices operate on embedded operating systems that are particularly sensitive to input manipulation due to their resource-constrained nature and often simplified security models.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an authenticated attacker who possesses valid administrator credentials for the affected device. This authentication requirement significantly reduces the attack surface but does not eliminate the risk entirely since credential compromise can occur through various means including credential stuffing attacks or social engineering campaigns. Once authenticated the attacker can craft specially formatted HTTP requests that exploit the input validation gaps in the web interface. The exploitation mechanism allows for arbitrary code execution with root privileges on the underlying operating system, which represents a complete compromise of the device's security posture. This level of privilege escalation is particularly dangerous because it enables attackers to modify device configurations, install backdoors, or exfiltrate sensitive data from the network.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to include potential denial of service conditions through device reboots. The ability to cause unexpected device restarts can result in significant network disruption particularly in environments where these routers serve as primary network gateways. Network administrators may experience service interruptions that could affect business operations and require manual intervention to restore services. From an ATT&CK framework perspective this vulnerability maps to multiple techniques including T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1489 for network disruption. The vulnerability also aligns with T1566 which covers credential harvesting and T1543 which addresses persistence mechanisms that could be established through arbitrary code execution.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-1325 should focus on immediate patching of affected devices through Cisco's official security advisories. Network administrators must ensure that all affected routers are updated to versions that address the input validation flaws. Additionally implementing network segmentation and access control measures can reduce the impact of potential exploitation by limiting the number of devices that are directly accessible from external networks. Monitoring network traffic for suspicious HTTP requests and implementing web application firewalls can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of credential management practices including regular credential rotation and multi-factor authentication implementation. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all affected devices within their network infrastructure and prioritize remediation efforts based on risk assessment. Regular security audits and penetration testing can help identify similar input validation vulnerabilities in other network devices and applications. The remediation process should include verifying that the patches have been successfully applied and that the devices are no longer vulnerable to the specific exploitation techniques described in the vulnerability report.