CVE-2022-20703 in Small Business RV160
Summary
by MITRE • 02/10/2022
Multiple vulnerabilities in Cisco Small Business RV160, RV260, RV340, and RV345 Series Routers could allow an attacker to do any of the following: Execute arbitrary code Elevate privileges Execute arbitrary commands Bypass authentication and authorization protections Fetch and run unsigned software Cause denial of service (DoS) For more information about these vulnerabilities, see the Details section of this advisory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/18/2024
The CVE-2022-20703 vulnerability affects Cisco Small Business routers in the RV160, RV260, RV340, and RV345 series product families, representing a critical security flaw that exposes these network devices to multiple attack vectors. These routers are commonly deployed in small business environments and are designed to provide network connectivity, firewall protection, and remote access capabilities. The vulnerabilities stem from insufficient input validation and authentication mechanisms within the router's web-based management interface and underlying operating system components. Attackers exploiting these weaknesses can gain unauthorized access to the device and potentially compromise the entire network infrastructure.
The technical flaw manifests through multiple pathways including command injection vulnerabilities in the router's web interface and weak authentication controls that allow credential bypass. These issues create opportunities for remote code execution where attackers can execute arbitrary commands on the affected devices. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the device's ability to properly validate user inputs and authenticate access attempts, enabling malicious actors to escalate privileges from regular user level to administrative access without proper authorization. The lack of proper input sanitization allows attackers to inject malicious commands that can be executed with elevated privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
From an operational impact perspective, these vulnerabilities create significant risks for organizations relying on Cisco Small Business routers for their network infrastructure. Successful exploitation can result in unauthorized network access, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within the network. The ability to bypass authentication and authorization protections means that attackers can gain administrative control without legitimate credentials, making detection difficult and potentially allowing persistent access. The vulnerability also enables attackers to fetch and run unsigned software, which could lead to the installation of malware or backdoors on the network. The denial of service capability further compounds the impact by allowing attackers to disrupt network operations and potentially cause business interruptions.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the latest firmware updates from Cisco to address the identified vulnerabilities. Network segmentation should be implemented to isolate these devices from critical network segments, and access controls should be strengthened through the use of strong authentication mechanisms and regular credential rotation. The affected devices should be monitored for signs of compromise, including unusual network traffic patterns, unauthorized configuration changes, and failed login attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing network intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures to address potential breaches. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 for cross-site scripting and CWE-287 for improper authentication, and represents a significant risk under ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1219 for proxy usage. Organizations should also review their network access controls and implement principle of least privilege to minimize potential damage from successful exploitation attempts.