CVE-2023-20148 in Small Business RV016
Summary
by MITRE • 04/05/2023
Multiple vulnerabilities in the web-based management interface of Cisco Small Business RV016, RV042, RV042G, RV082, RV320, and RV325 Routers could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks against a user of the interface. These vulnerabilities are due to insufficient input validation by the web-based management interface. An attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities by sending crafted HTTP requests to an affected device and then persuading a user to visit specific web pages that include malicious payloads. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary script code in the context of the affected interface or access sensitive, browser-based information. Cisco has not released software updates that address these vulnerabilities.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/25/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-20148 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting multiple Cisco Small Business routers including RV016 RV042 RV042G RV082 RV320 and RV325 models. This vulnerability exists within the web-based management interface of these devices and poses a significant security risk due to its unauthenticated nature and remote exploitation capability. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms implemented by Cisco in their web interface, creating an attack vector that allows remote adversaries to inject malicious scripts into the affected systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting conditions where input is not properly validated or sanitized before being rendered in web interfaces. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specially designed HTTP requests that target the vulnerable web management interface of these routers. The exploitation process requires the attacker to first send malicious requests to the affected device and then convince a legitimate user to visit web pages containing the injected payloads. This social engineering component is crucial for successful exploitation since the vulnerability requires user interaction to manifest its full impact.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-20148 extends beyond simple script execution capabilities as it provides attackers with the ability to operate within the context of the affected web interface. This means that successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the web interface user, potentially allowing them to access sensitive browser-based information or manipulate the router's configuration settings. The lack of available software updates from Cisco creates a particularly concerning scenario where organizations cannot remediate the vulnerability through standard patch management processes. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1566 for social engineering and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage, making it a multi-stage threat that can lead to broader network compromise.
Organizations utilizing these affected router models should implement immediate network segmentation strategies to limit lateral movement potential should an attacker successfully exploit this vulnerability. Network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect anomalous HTTP traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The absence of official patches from Cisco underscores the importance of deploying network-based mitigations such as web application firewalls or proxy solutions that can filter malicious requests before they reach the vulnerable interfaces. Security teams should also consider disabling the web management interface when not actively required and implement strict access controls for any remaining web interface usage. The vulnerability's classification as unauthenticated and remote means that network-level protections are particularly critical since attackers can initiate exploitation without requiring valid credentials or physical access to the devices.