CVE-2021-1342 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-2021-1342 represents a critical security flaw affecting several Cisco Small Business routers including the RV016, RV042, RV042G, RV082, RV320, and RV325 models. This issue stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the web-based management interface of these network devices, creating a pathway for authenticated remote code execution and denial of service conditions. The flaw specifically targets the handling of user-supplied input through HTTP requests, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited over the network without requiring physical access to the device.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through improper sanitization of HTTP request parameters within the router's web management interface. When administrators or attackers submit crafted HTTP requests containing malicious input, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize this data before processing. This allows attackers with valid administrator credentials to inject arbitrary commands that execute with root privileges on the underlying operating system. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically affects the web management interface components that handle administrative functions, making it particularly insidious as it leverages legitimate administrative access to escalate privileges and execute unauthorized code.
From an operational perspective, the impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to include potential system instability and denial of service conditions. Successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise where attackers gain root access to execute arbitrary commands, modify system configurations, or establish persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. Additionally, the ability to cause unexpected device restarts creates opportunities for denial of service attacks that could disrupt network operations and compromise business continuity. The vulnerability affects network infrastructure devices that are typically considered critical components of enterprise and small business networks, making the potential impact substantial.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to first obtain valid administrator credentials, which aligns with the principle of least privilege and demonstrates the importance of proper access control measures. However, once authenticated, the attacker can leverage this weakness to bypass normal security controls and execute malicious code with the highest possible privileges. This vulnerability is categorized under CWE-20, which specifically addresses Improper Input Validation, and aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and command execution. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it affects multiple router models from the same product line, suggesting a systemic design flaw rather than isolated component issues.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the latest security patches from Cisco, enforcing strong authentication controls, and implementing network segmentation to limit the impact of potential compromise. Regular security audits should verify that administrative access is properly restricted and that only authorized personnel have access to these critical network devices. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns of administrative access or command execution that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date firmware and implementing robust security practices for network infrastructure devices that serve as foundational components of enterprise security postures.