CVE-2022-20709 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 • 02/14/2022
The Cisco Small Business RV160 RV260 RV340 and RV345 Series Routers are network devices that serve as critical components in small to medium business environments providing routing switching and security functions. These devices are designed to protect corporate networks by filtering traffic and controlling access to internal resources. The vulnerabilities identified in CVE-2022-20709 represent a significant threat to the security posture of organizations relying on these devices. The affected routers operate with a web-based management interface that allows administrators to configure network settings and monitor device performance. These devices are commonly deployed in environments where network segmentation and access control are paramount to maintaining security boundaries.
Multiple vulnerabilities exist within the authentication and authorization mechanisms of these routers that could be exploited by remote attackers without requiring valid credentials. The technical flaw stems from improper input validation and insufficient access controls that allow attackers to bypass authentication protections and gain unauthorized access to the device management interface. The vulnerabilities also include issues related to privilege escalation where an attacker who gains initial access could elevate their privileges to administrative level. This occurs due to inadequate privilege checking mechanisms and potentially flawed session management that does not properly enforce access controls. The presence of command execution capabilities means that attackers could inject and run arbitrary code on the device which represents a severe escalation of privileges. The vulnerabilities are particularly concerning because they can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical access to the device.
The operational impact of these vulnerabilities is extensive and could result in complete compromise of the affected network infrastructure. An attacker who successfully exploits these vulnerabilities could execute arbitrary commands on the device and potentially gain root access to the underlying operating system. This level of access would allow unauthorized users to modify network configurations, redirect traffic, install malicious software, and establish persistence within the network environment. The ability to bypass authentication protections means that even if organizations have implemented strong network access controls they could still be compromised if these vulnerable routers are accessible from the internet. The vulnerability also allows for the execution of unsigned software which could enable attackers to install backdoors or other malicious components. The denial of service capabilities could be exploited to disrupt network operations and potentially cause business interruptions that impact productivity and revenue.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations to address these vulnerabilities in their network infrastructure. The primary recommendation is to apply the latest firmware updates provided by Cisco which contain patches for the identified vulnerabilities. Network segmentation should be implemented to ensure that these vulnerable devices are not directly accessible from the internet and are instead placed behind additional security controls. Access control lists should be configured to limit access to the device management interfaces to only trusted administrative workstations. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious network activity that could indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of network access control solutions and intrusion detection systems can help identify and prevent exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider disabling unnecessary services and ports on these devices to reduce the attack surface. The vulnerabilities described in CVE-2022-20709 are categorized under CWE-284 which addresses improper access control and CWE-79 which relates to cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. From an ATT&CK perspective these vulnerabilities map to techniques including privilege escalation T1068 and command and control T1071. The exploitation of these vulnerabilities aligns with the initial access phase of the cyber kill chain where attackers establish a foothold within the target network. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially vulnerable devices within their network infrastructure and ensure that all network equipment is properly maintained with current security patches.