CVE-2021-1165 : What You Need to Know

Cisco Small Business RV110W, RV130, RV130W, and RV215W Routers are prone to multiple vulnerabilities in their web-based management interface, allowing remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or trigger device restarts. Here's what you need to know about CVE-2021-1165.

Understanding CVE-2021-1165

This section provides an overview of the CVE-2021-1165 vulnerability affecting Cisco Small Business RV Series Routers.

What is CVE-2021-1165?

The CVE-2021-1165 vulnerability involves improper validation of user-supplied input in the web-based management interface of Cisco Small Business RV110W, RV130, RV130W, and RV215W Routers. This allows authenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause devices to restart unexpectedly.

The Impact of CVE-2021-1165

The impact of CVE-2021-1165 is rated as high, with a CVSS base score of 7.2. Attackers with valid administrator credentials can exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code as the root user or disrupt device operations, resulting in denial of service (DoS) conditions.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-1165

This section delves into the technical aspects of the CVE-2021-1165 vulnerability, including its description, affected systems and versions, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stems from improper input validation in the web-based management interface, enabling attackers to craft HTTP requests that lead to arbitrary code execution or device restarts.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected products include Cisco Small Business RV Series Router Firmware with all versions susceptible to this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

To exploit CVE-2021-1165, attackers need administrator credentials for the targeted device. By sending malicious HTTP requests, attackers can execute code or force device reboots.

Mitigation and Prevention

Here are the steps to mitigate the risks posed by CVE-2021-1165 and prevent potential exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

As a precautionary measure, users should restrict network access to the routers and monitor traffic for any suspicious activity. Additionally, changing default passwords and implementing strong access controls can help prevent unauthorized access.

Long-Term Security Practices

To enhance long-term security, users are advised to regularly update router firmware, configure firewalls to filter out malicious traffic, and conduct security audits to identify and address vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Given that Cisco has not released software updates to address CVE-2021-1165, users should stay informed about security advisories from Cisco and apply patches promptly once available.