CVE-2021-1344 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-2021-1344 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, creating a pathway for authenticated remote attackers to gain elevated privileges and execute arbitrary code on the underlying operating system. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data, allowing malicious actors to craft specially formatted HTTP requests that can bypass normal security controls. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-20, which addresses "Improper Input Validation" and represents a fundamental weakness in how the router processes external data inputs through its web interface.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to possess valid administrator credentials, establishing a baseline authentication requirement that limits the attack surface but does not eliminate the risk. Once authenticated, the attacker can send crafted HTTP requests that exploit the improper input validation to execute arbitrary code with root privileges, effectively compromising the entire device. This privilege escalation capability allows the attacker to gain complete control over the router's operating system, potentially enabling them to modify network configurations, redirect traffic, or establish persistent access points. The vulnerability can also be exploited to cause unexpected device restarts, creating a denial of service condition that disrupts network operations and may require manual intervention to restore functionality. This dual nature of the vulnerability provides attackers with both persistent access and disruption capabilities, making it particularly dangerous for network infrastructure.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-1344 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can fundamentally compromise network security posture for organizations relying on these routers for their small business networks. Network administrators may find their devices compromised without detection, potentially leading to data exfiltration, man-in-the-middle attacks, or complete network disruption. The vulnerability's presence in multiple router models suggests a widespread risk across Cisco Small Business deployments, affecting organizations that may not have robust monitoring or patching procedures in place. The ability to execute code as root user provides attackers with unrestricted access to the device's file system, network interfaces, and routing configurations, potentially enabling them to establish backdoors or redirect network traffic to malicious destinations. Organizations using these routers may experience service interruptions during exploitation attempts, and the compromised devices could serve as launching points for broader network attacks against internal systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-1344 should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary recommendation involves applying the latest security patches released by Cisco to address the input validation flaws in the web-based management interface. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces, ensuring that only authorized personnel can reach the router management pages. Additional security measures include enforcing strong authentication practices, implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative access, and regularly monitoring network traffic for suspicious HTTP requests that may indicate exploitation attempts. Network administrators should consider disabling the web-based management interface entirely if it is not required, instead using secure command-line interfaces or dedicated management protocols. The vulnerability's alignment with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell," suggests that attackers may leverage these capabilities to execute malicious code through the compromised routers, making comprehensive network monitoring essential for early detection and response. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar input validation weaknesses across the network infrastructure, ensuring that similar vulnerabilities are not present in other network devices or applications.