CVE-2021-1345 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-2021-1345 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, creating potential pathways for malicious code execution or system disruption. The affected devices operate with a web interface that handles HTTP requests from remote administrators, making them susceptible to crafted malicious inputs that bypass normal security controls. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and availability of network infrastructure, as it allows for both privilege escalation and denial of service conditions.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2021-1345 relies on the improper validation of user-supplied input within the web management interface components of affected Cisco routers. When an authenticated attacker sends specially crafted HTTP requests to the device, the system fails to properly validate the input parameters, allowing malicious data to be processed without adequate sanitization. This vulnerability maps to CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and CWE-79, which addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, though the specific exploitation results in code execution rather than script injection. The attack vector requires valid administrative credentials, establishing a baseline authentication requirement that limits the attack surface but does not eliminate the risk. The exploitation mechanism allows for arbitrary code execution with root privileges, effectively granting attackers complete control over the underlying operating system, or alternatively, can trigger unexpected device reboots that result in denial of service conditions.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-1345 extends beyond simple privilege escalation or denial of service, creating substantial risk for network infrastructure security and business continuity. When exploited successfully, the vulnerability enables attackers to execute arbitrary code as the root user, effectively providing complete system compromise and persistent access to the network. This level of access allows for advanced persistent threat activities including network reconnaissance, lateral movement, data exfiltration, and establishment of backdoors. The potential for device reboots introduces additional operational concerns as these network devices often serve as critical connectivity points within small business networks, where service interruptions can severely impact operations. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques such as T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1499.004 for network disruption, while the privilege escalation aspect corresponds to T1068. The attack surface is particularly concerning for small business environments where network security monitoring and incident response capabilities may be limited.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-1345 should focus on immediate patch management and access control improvements. Cisco has released security updates addressing this vulnerability, and administrators should prioritize applying these patches to all affected devices. The vulnerability requires valid administrative credentials for exploitation, making strong authentication practices essential including implementation of multi-factor authentication and regular credential rotation. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit administrative access to these devices to only authorized personnel. Monitoring for suspicious HTTP requests and unusual device behavior should be enabled through network security monitoring tools to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing network access control lists and restricting administrative access to specific IP addresses can reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation in web applications and highlights the need for regular security assessments of network infrastructure components. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts and maintain updated threat intelligence regarding similar vulnerabilities in network equipment.