CVE-2021-1360 in Small Business
Summary
by MITRE • 01/14/2021
Multiple vulnerabilities in the web-based management interface of Cisco Small Business RV110W, RV130, RV130W, and RV215W Routers could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary code or cause an affected device to restart unexpectedly. The 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. Cisco has not released software updates that address these vulnerabilities.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/14/2021
The CVE-2021-1360 vulnerability affects Cisco Small Business routers including RV110W, RV130, RV130W, and RV215W models, presenting a critical security risk through their web-based management interfaces. These devices operate with embedded operating systems that process HTTP requests through web interfaces, creating attack surfaces where improper input validation allows malicious actors to manipulate device behavior. The vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data in the web management portal, specifically in the handling of HTTP request parameters that should be validated before processing. This flaw enables authenticated remote code execution as the root user, representing a severe compromise of device integrity and network security. The affected devices typically serve small business environments where network administrators rely on these interfaces for configuration management, making the attack vector particularly dangerous as it requires only valid administrative credentials to exploit.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a pattern where attackers craft specially formatted HTTP requests that bypass input validation mechanisms within the web interface. These crafted requests manipulate internal processing functions that handle user inputs, leading to code injection or command execution within the device's operating system environment. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation as a fundamental weakness in software design that allows malicious data to be processed without adequate sanitization. When successfully exploited, the vulnerability can result in complete system compromise, with attackers gaining root-level privileges that enable them to modify device configurations, install malicious software, or establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure. The device restart or reload functionality represents a denial of service component that can be leveraged to disrupt network operations and potentially mask other malicious activities.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-1360 extends beyond immediate security breaches to encompass broader network reliability and business continuity concerns. Small business networks relying on these routers face potential data exposure, unauthorized access to internal systems, and complete service disruption during exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's requirement for valid administrator credentials means that insider threats or credential compromise scenarios become particularly dangerous, as they can lead to complete network infiltration. Organizations using these devices must consider the implications of unauthorized access to network infrastructure, especially since the affected models typically control routing, firewall, and network access policies. The lack of available software updates for this vulnerability creates a persistent risk where organizations cannot remediate the issue through standard patch management procedures, forcing them to rely on network segmentation, credential hardening, and monitoring as compensating controls.
Security practitioners should implement layered defensive strategies to address this vulnerability, including network segmentation to limit access to affected devices, strict access control measures for administrative credentials, and continuous monitoring for suspicious HTTP request patterns. The vulnerability's characteristics align with ATT&CK technique T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreters, as exploitation involves executing commands through the device's operating system. Organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious HTTP requests, while also conducting regular security assessments to identify unauthorized administrative access attempts. The absence of official patches from Cisco necessitates proactive security measures including network access controls, credential rotation, and regular security audits to maintain operational security posture. Incident response procedures should include specific protocols for detecting and responding to potential exploitation attempts, given the severity of potential system compromise and the limited remediation options available.