CVE-2022-20801 in RV340
Summary
by MITRE • 05/04/2022
Multiple vulnerabilities in the web-based management interface of Cisco Small Business RV340 and RV345 Routers could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to inject and execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system of an affected device. These vulnerabilities are due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input. An attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities by sending malicious input to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying Linux operating system of the affected device. 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 • 05/07/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-20801 represents a critical command injection flaw in Cisco Small Business RV340 and RV345 routers, specifically within their web-based management interfaces. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing. The affected devices operate on a Linux-based operating system, making them susceptible to arbitrary code execution when malicious input is processed through the web interface. The flaw exists in the authentication flow where legitimate administrative credentials are required but insufficient input sanitization allows for exploitation of the underlying system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an authenticated attacker with administrator privileges, which aligns with CWE-20 standards for input validation failures. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that bypass the input validation checks and inject commands directly into the system's command execution pipeline. The vulnerability specifically targets the web management interface components that handle user input, creating a pathway for privilege escalation and system compromise. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK framework's T1059.001 technique for command and script injection, where adversaries execute code through legitimate system interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as successful exploitation enables complete system compromise of the affected routers. An attacker could gain full administrative control over the device, potentially leading to network infiltration, data exfiltration, or disruption of network services. The affected Cisco RV340 and RV345 models represent popular small business networking equipment, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations relying on these devices for network infrastructure. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means attackers can target these devices from outside the network perimeter, provided they have valid administrative credentials.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-20801 should prioritize immediate patching of affected devices through Cisco's official security advisories and firmware updates. Organizations must implement strict credential management practices, including regular credential rotation and multi-factor authentication where possible, to reduce the risk of unauthorized access. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit potential attack vectors, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual command execution patterns or unauthorized administrative access attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing network intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on suspicious traffic patterns associated with command injection attempts, as outlined in various NIST cybersecurity frameworks for managing critical infrastructure vulnerabilities.