CVE-2024-20522 in RV042
Summary
by MITRE • 10/02/2024
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Small Business RV042, RV042G, RV320, and RV325 Routers could allow an authenticated, Administrator-level, remote attacker to cause an unexpected reload of an affected device, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would need to have valid Administrator credentials on the affected device. This vulnerability is due to improper validation of user input that is in incoming HTTP packets. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted HTTP request to the web-based management interface of the affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause an unexpected reload of the device, resulting in a DoS condition.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/05/2024
This vulnerability affects Cisco Small Business routers including the RV042, RV042G, RV320, and RV325 models, specifically targeting their web-based management interfaces. The flaw represents a critical security weakness that could be exploited by authenticated attackers with administrator privileges to disrupt network operations through unauthorized device resets. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the HTTP request processing pipeline of these network devices, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate the system's operational state. Such a weakness is particularly concerning given that these devices are commonly deployed in small business environments where network availability is paramount for daily operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper validation of user input within incoming HTTP packets that are processed by the affected router's web interface. When an attacker sends a specially crafted HTTP request containing malformed or unexpected input parameters, the device's processing logic fails to properly validate or sanitize these inputs before using them in system operations. This lack of input validation creates a condition where the device interprets the malicious input as a legitimate command to trigger a system reload operation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation as a fundamental weakness in software design that can lead to various security issues including denial of service conditions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to network availability and business continuity for organizations relying on these Cisco routers. The successful exploitation of this flaw results in an unexpected device reload that effectively creates a denial of service condition, rendering the network infrastructure inaccessible to legitimate users. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as the affected routers may experience repeated reload cycles if the vulnerability is continuously exploited, potentially leading to extended network outages. The requirement for administrator credentials to exploit this vulnerability means that internal threats or compromised administrative accounts pose a particular risk, as the attacker does not need to perform complex reconnaissance or credential harvesting techniques.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is specifically through the web-based management interface of the affected devices, making it accessible to anyone with valid administrative credentials. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which covers legitimate credentials as a means of gaining access to systems. The exploitation process requires minimal technical skill beyond understanding the device's web interface and basic HTTP request construction, making it accessible to a wide range of threat actors. Network administrators should be particularly concerned about this vulnerability given that it could be exploited by malicious insiders or by attackers who have successfully compromised administrative accounts through other means.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through official Cisco software updates and patches. Organizations should prioritize applying the relevant security patches released by Cisco to address the input validation flaws in the web interface components. Network segmentation and access control measures can provide additional protection by limiting access to administrative interfaces to only trusted networks and users. Implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect unusual reload patterns or unauthorized access attempts to management interfaces can provide early warning of potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative access and regular credential rotation to reduce the risk of unauthorized access to these critical network devices. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation in web applications and highlights how seemingly simple design flaws can lead to significant operational impacts in network infrastructure devices.