CVE-2023-20124 in Small Business RV016
Summary
by MITRE • 04/05/2023
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Small Business RV016, RV042, RV042G, RV082, RV320, and RV325 Routers could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands on an affected device. This vulnerability is due to improper validation of user input within incoming HTTP packets. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted HTTP request to the web-based management interface. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to gain root-level privileges and access unauthorized data. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would need to have valid administrative credentials on the affected device. Cisco has not released software updates that address this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/24/2025
This vulnerability resides within the web-based management interface of several Cisco Small Business routers including the RV016, RV042, RV042G, RV082, RV320, and RV325 models. The flaw represents a critical security weakness that enables authenticated remote code execution, fundamentally compromising the device's integrity and the network it protects. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the HTTP request processing pipeline of these network devices, creating a pathway for malicious actors to escalate their privileges and gain unauthorized access to sensitive system resources. According to the CWE taxonomy, this vulnerability maps to CWE-20, which describes "Improper Input Validation" as a fundamental weakness that allows attackers to manipulate input data to cause unexpected behavior in applications. The attack vector specifically targets the web management interface, which serves as the primary administrative entry point for configuring and managing these routers, making it an attractive target for cyber adversaries seeking persistent network access.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to possess valid administrative credentials, which significantly reduces the attack surface compared to unauthenticated exploits. However, the impact remains severe as the vulnerability allows privilege escalation from administrative level to root level access, effectively granting attackers complete control over the affected devices. This elevation of privileges enables unauthorized data access, configuration modifications, and potential lateral movement within the network. The HTTP packet processing mechanism fails to properly sanitize or validate incoming user inputs, allowing malicious payloads to be interpreted by the system as legitimate commands. The vulnerability's characteristics align with the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' tactic where attackers leverage software flaws to gain higher-level system access. The absence of software updates from Cisco creates a persistent risk for organizations relying on these devices, as they remain vulnerable to exploitation without mitigation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, creating potential for significant network disruption and data compromise. Organizations using these routers face risks including unauthorized network configuration changes, data exfiltration, and potential use as a pivot point for attacking other network segments. The vulnerability's presence in multiple router models within the same product line suggests a systemic design flaw that affects a broad range of network infrastructure components. Network administrators who rely on these devices for their small business networks may find their entire network security posture compromised, as these routers often serve as the primary gateway between internal networks and external connectivity. The lack of available patches from Cisco compounds the risk, leaving organizations with limited options for remediation and forcing them to implement workarounds or alternative security measures to protect their network infrastructure. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining current firmware updates and implementing network segmentation strategies to limit the potential impact of such security flaws in enterprise and small business environments.