CVE-2021-1333 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 vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-1333 represents a critical security flaw affecting multiple Cisco Small Business routers including the RV016, RV042, RV042G, RV082, RV320, and RV325 models. This vulnerability exists within the web-based management interface of these network devices, creating a pathway for authenticated remote attackers to compromise the affected systems. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing within the device's operating system. According to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to technique T1210 - Exploitation of Remote Services, as it allows remote code execution through web interface access. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-20, which specifically addresses Improper Input Validation, highlighting the fundamental security weakness in how the device handles user-provided data.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to possess valid administrator credentials, establishing a privilege escalation scenario where authenticated access can be leveraged for more severe consequences. When an attacker crafts and sends specially formatted HTTP requests to the affected device, the improper input validation allows malicious payloads to be executed within the router's operating system context. This execution occurs with root privileges, providing attackers with complete control over the device's functionality and potentially enabling them to modify network configurations, access sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors. The attack vector operates through the web interface, making it accessible to anyone with administrative login credentials who understands how to construct the malicious requests. The underlying operating system's failure to validate input parameters creates a direct code execution pathway that bypasses normal security controls and authentication mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-1333 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to include potential denial of service conditions through device reboots, as well as complete system compromise. Network administrators face significant risks including unauthorized network access, data interception, and potential lateral movement within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability's presence in multiple router models increases the attack surface significantly, as organizations with Cisco Small Business routers across their network infrastructure become vulnerable to this exploitation. From an industry perspective, this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization and the dangers of insufficient validation in web applications, particularly in network infrastructure devices where the consequences of compromise can affect entire network segments. The DoS component of this vulnerability can be used for network disruption attacks, while the remote code execution capability enables persistent threats that can remain undetected for extended periods.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-1333 should prioritize immediate implementation of network segmentation and access control measures to limit exposure of affected devices. Organizations must ensure that only authorized personnel have administrative access to these devices and that strong authentication mechanisms are implemented. Cisco has released security advisories and patches addressing this vulnerability, which should be deployed immediately across all affected router models. Network administrators should also implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual HTTP request patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by restricting administrative access to only those individuals who require it for their specific duties. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network access control lists to limit access to the web management interfaces of these devices to trusted IP addresses only. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar input validation issues in other network infrastructure components, following the security guidelines established by NIST and other cybersecurity frameworks to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future deployments.