CVE-2023-20150 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-2023-20150 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting multiple Cisco Small Business routers including the RV016, RV042, RV042G, RV082, RV320, and RV325 models. This security weakness resides within the web-based management interface of these network devices, creating a significant attack surface that could be exploited by remote threat actors without requiring authentication credentials. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms implemented within the device's web interface, which fails to properly sanitize or filter user-supplied data before processing or rendering it within browser contexts. This insufficient validation creates opportunities for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary script code within the browser sessions of legitimate users who interact with the affected management interface.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a classic XSS attack pattern where an unauthenticated attacker crafts malicious HTTP requests designed to target the vulnerable web interface. The attack vector relies on social engineering techniques where the attacker must persuade a legitimate user to visit specific web pages containing malicious payloads that are embedded within the router's management interface. When the victim's browser processes these malicious scripts, the code executes in the context of the affected web application, potentially allowing attackers to perform actions with the privileges of the authenticated user. The impact extends beyond simple script execution, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to access sensitive browser-based information, steal session cookies, or redirect users to malicious websites that could further compromise the network environment.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities in web applications. The attack model conforms to the MITRE ATT&CK framework's technique T1059.007 for Scripting, where adversaries leverage web-based interfaces to execute malicious code through browser-based attack vectors. The absence of available software updates from Cisco creates a particularly concerning scenario for network administrators, as it leaves affected organizations without official remediation paths. This vulnerability represents a significant risk to small business networks where IT resources may be limited, and the complexity of network management interfaces increases the likelihood of users inadvertently interacting with malicious content. Organizations utilizing these routers face potential compromise of their network management capabilities, which could lead to broader network infiltration, data exfiltration, or disruption of business operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate security concerns to encompass potential network integrity and availability issues. When attackers successfully execute XSS payloads, they can manipulate the web interface to display malicious content, potentially altering router configurations, redirecting users to phishing sites, or harvesting sensitive authentication tokens. The lack of official patches from Cisco forces network administrators to implement alternative mitigation strategies including network segmentation, web application firewalls, or manual monitoring of affected interfaces. Given that these routers typically serve as primary network gateways, the compromise of their management interfaces could provide attackers with elevated privileges to conduct further reconnaissance, establish persistent access points, or launch attacks against internal network resources. Organizations should consider implementing temporary network access controls to restrict access to these management interfaces, particularly from untrusted networks, while developing contingency plans for potential device replacement or hardware upgrades to address the root cause of the vulnerability.