CVE-2022-20893 in Small Business RV110W
Summary
by MITRE • 07/22/2022
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 on an affected device or cause the device to restart unexpectedly, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition. These vulnerabilities are due to insufficient validation of user fields within incoming HTTP packets. An attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities by sending a crafted request to the web-based management interface. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands on an affected device with root-level privileges or to cause the device to restart unexpectedly, resulting in a 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.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/22/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-20893 affects Cisco Small Business routers including the RV110W, RV130, RV130W, and RV215W models, presenting a critical security risk through their web-based management interfaces. This flaw stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the HTTP packet processing logic, creating a pathway for authenticated remote attackers to compromise device integrity. The vulnerability specifically targets the validation of user fields within incoming HTTP requests, allowing maliciously crafted inputs to bypass normal security checks and potentially execute unauthorized operations on the affected systems. Organizations relying on these network devices face significant exposure since the attack requires only valid administrator credentials, which are often well-known or easily obtained through social engineering or credential reuse attacks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages insufficient sanitization of HTTP request parameters, enabling attackers to inject malicious payloads that can execute with root-level privileges on the target devices. This privilege escalation capability represents a severe security flaw that aligns with CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation) and potentially maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) when attackers utilize command execution capabilities. The impact extends beyond mere code execution to include denial of service conditions through device restarts, which can disrupt network operations and create availability issues for critical infrastructure components. The vulnerability's design flaw allows attackers to craft HTTP requests that bypass normal input validation checks, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution and complete system compromise.
From an operational standpoint, the exploitation of CVE-2022-20893 creates a multi-layered threat scenario where network administrators face both persistent security risks and operational disruption. The requirement for valid administrator credentials means that attackers who have already gained access through other means can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and maintain persistent access to network infrastructure. This vulnerability particularly impacts small business networks where security monitoring and patch management may be limited, making these devices attractive targets for attackers seeking to establish footholds within corporate networks. The lack of available software updates from Cisco compounds the risk, leaving organizations with no official remediation path and forcing them to rely on temporary workarounds or network segmentation strategies to protect against exploitation attempts.
Organizations should implement immediate defensive measures including network segmentation to isolate affected devices from critical network segments, enforcing strict access controls for web management interfaces, and implementing monitoring solutions to detect anomalous HTTP traffic patterns. Security teams should also consider disabling web management interfaces when not actively required, implementing strong authentication mechanisms, and establishing robust credential management practices to minimize the risk of unauthorized access. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation in web applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of management interfaces. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify similar weaknesses in other network devices and applications, as this represents a broader class of security issues affecting network infrastructure components. The absence of official patches from Cisco emphasizes the critical need for alternative protective measures and underscores the importance of maintaining awareness of security vulnerabilities in network infrastructure devices.