CVE-2021-1328 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-2021-1328 vulnerability affects Cisco Small Business routers including RV016 RV042 RV042G RV082 RV320 and RV325 models presenting a critical security risk through improper input validation in their web-based management interfaces. This vulnerability represents a classic example of insufficient input sanitization that enables privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution. The flaw stems from inadequate validation of user-supplied input within the router's web management portal, creating a pathway for authenticated remote attackers to gain elevated privileges. According to the CWE classification system this vulnerability maps to CWE-20 Improper Input Validation which is a foundational weakness that frequently leads to more severe security consequences including arbitrary code execution and system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to possess valid administrator credentials for the affected device, establishing a baseline authentication requirement that limits the attack surface but does not eliminate the risk. Once authenticated, the attacker can craft specially designed HTTP requests that exploit the input validation gaps in the web interface. These crafted requests leverage the improper validation mechanisms to inject malicious payloads that execute with root privileges on the underlying operating system. The exploitation process typically involves manipulating form fields or URL parameters that are not properly sanitized before being processed by the router's backend systems. The vulnerability creates a direct code execution channel that bypasses normal security controls and operates at the highest privilege level available on the device.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-1328 extends beyond simple code execution to include potential system instability and denial of service conditions. When successfully exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code as the root user which provides complete control over the affected router. This level of access enables attackers to modify network configurations, establish persistent backdoors, monitor network traffic, and potentially use the compromised device as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the network. The ability to cause unexpected device restarts adds a denial of service component to the attack surface, which can disrupt network operations and may be used as a secondary attack vector. The combination of remote code execution and denial of service capabilities makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where these routers often serve as critical network infrastructure components.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the latest firmware updates from Cisco which address the input validation flaws in the web management interfaces. Network segmentation and access control measures should be enhanced to limit administrative access to these devices, implementing the principle of least privilege for router management. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, highlighting the need for comprehensive monitoring of administrative access patterns and unusual network behavior. Regular security assessments of network infrastructure should include vulnerability scanning specifically targeting these router models and their web interfaces. Additionally, implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous HTTP traffic patterns and unauthorized administrative access attempts will help identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining current firmware versions and conducting regular security audits of network infrastructure components to prevent similar issues from compromising network security posture.