CVE-2024-20470 in RV340
Summary
by MITRE • 10/02/2024
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Small Business RV340, RV340W, RV345, and RV345P Dual WAN Gigabit VPN Routers could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on an affected device. In order to exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must have valid admin credentials.
This vulnerability exists because the web-based management interface does not sufficiently validate user-supplied input. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted HTTP input to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code as the root user on the underlying operating system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/10/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-20470 represents a critical security flaw within the web-based management interface of Cisco Small Business routers including the RV340, RV340W, RV345, and RV345P models. This issue stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate the system through crafted HTTP requests. The vulnerability specifically affects the dual WAN gigabit VPN router series, which are commonly deployed in small business environments where centralized network management is essential for operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to possess valid administrative credentials, establishing a privilege escalation scenario where authenticated access leads to remote code execution. The flaw manifests when the web interface processes HTTP input without adequate validation checks, allowing malicious payloads to be executed within the router's operating system context. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-20, which describes "Improper Input Validation" as a fundamental weakness in software design that permits malformed input to be processed without proper sanitization. The consequence of successful exploitation enables attackers to execute arbitrary code with root privileges, effectively providing complete control over the affected device's underlying operating system.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to small business networks that rely on these routers for their connectivity infrastructure. The combination of remote code execution capability with authenticated access means that attackers who gain administrative credentials can compromise entire network operations, potentially leading to data breaches, network disruption, or use as a foothold for further attacks within the organization's network perimeter. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that these routers are typically deployed in environments where network security monitoring may be limited, making detection of such attacks more challenging. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" but extends beyond scripting to encompass direct operating system command execution through web interface manipulation.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-20470 should prioritize immediate implementation of Cisco's security advisories and firmware updates to address the input validation deficiencies. Network administrators should enforce strict access controls and credential management practices, including regular credential rotation and multi-factor authentication where possible. Additional protective measures include network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces, implementation of network monitoring to detect unusual traffic patterns, and regular security assessments of network infrastructure. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date firmware and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that minimize the attack surface for critical network infrastructure components. Organizations should also consider implementing network access controls that restrict administrative access to only necessary personnel and systems, reducing the likelihood that valid administrative credentials will be compromised and exploited.