CVE-2021-1338 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-2021-1338 represents a critical security flaw affecting several Cisco Small Business routers including the RV016, RV042, RV042G, RV082, RV320, and RV325 models. This vulnerability resides within the web-based management interface of these network devices, creating a significant attack surface that could be exploited by authenticated remote adversaries. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing within the device's operating system. The affected devices operate with a web interface that handles HTTP requests from administrators, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged through network-based attacks without requiring physical access to the device.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2021-1338 relies on sending specially crafted HTTP requests to the vulnerable web interface, which then processes these requests without adequate validation of the input parameters. This improper input validation creates a path for code injection attacks that can escalate privileges to the root user level on the underlying operating system. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation as a fundamental weakness in software design, and can be categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter. When successfully exploited, the vulnerability provides attackers with complete control over the affected device, enabling them to execute arbitrary code with the highest privileges available within the system. The attack requires only valid administrator credentials, making it particularly concerning as it does not require additional privilege escalation techniques once an attacker gains access to administrative accounts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution capabilities to include potential denial of service conditions through device reboots. This dual nature of the vulnerability means that attackers can either gain persistent control over network infrastructure or simply disrupt services by causing unexpected device restarts. The affected routers serve as critical network components in small business environments, making the potential for service disruption particularly severe. Network administrators face the challenge of maintaining availability while addressing the root cause of the vulnerability, as the device may become unresponsive during exploitation attempts. The impact is amplified by the fact that these routers often serve as gateways for network traffic, meaning that a successful DoS attack could compromise entire network segments. Organizations relying on these devices for network security and access control face significant risk of unauthorized access to their internal networks, potentially leading to data breaches or further lateral movement within the network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-1338 should prioritize immediate patching of affected devices through Cisco's security advisories, which typically include firmware updates addressing the input validation flaws. Network administrators should implement strict access controls and authentication measures to limit the attack surface, ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to administrative interfaces. Regular monitoring of network traffic for suspicious HTTP requests and implementing web application firewalls can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and input validation in network device software development, aligning with industry standards that emphasize defensive programming techniques. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation and maintain detailed audit logs of administrative activities for forensic analysis. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other network infrastructure components, as this vulnerability type represents a common pattern in network device security flaws that may exist in other products within the Cisco Small Business line.