CVE-2021-1184 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Multiple vulnerabilities have been identified in the web-based management interface of Cisco Small Business RV Series Routers. These vulnerabilities could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code or cause a device to restart unexpectedly.

Understanding CVE-2021-1184

This CVE refers to vulnerabilities found in the web-based management interface of Cisco Small Business RV110W, RV130, RV130W, and RV215W Routers. These vulnerabilities could be exploited by an authenticated remote attacker.

What is CVE-2021-1184?

The vulnerabilities in the web-based management interface of Cisco Small Business RV Series Routers could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code or cause a device to restart unexpectedly. The attacker would need valid administrator credentials to exploit these vulnerabilities.

The Impact of CVE-2021-1184

The impact of these vulnerabilities is significant, as a successful exploit could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code as the root user on the underlying operating system or cause the device to reload, leading to a denial of service condition.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-1184

These technical details provide insight into the specific aspects of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerabilities are a result of improper validation of user-supplied input in the web-based management interface, allowing attackers to send crafted HTTP requests to affected devices.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected systems include Cisco Small Business RV Series Routers (RV110W, RV130, RV130W, and RV215W) with the firmware version 'n/a'.

Exploitation Mechanism

An attacker with valid administrator credentials can exploit these vulnerabilities by sending crafted HTTP requests to the affected device. No public announcements or malicious use of these vulnerabilities have been reported.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2021-1184, immediate steps should be taken along with long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

As Cisco has not released software updates for these vulnerabilities, it is crucial to ensure secure administration practices, restrict network access to trusted entities, and monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity.

Long-Term Security Practices

Long-term security practices should include regular security assessments, timely implementation of software updates, network segmentation, and the use of intrusion detection and prevention systems.

Patching and Updates

Users are advised to regularly check for software updates from Cisco and apply them as soon as they are available to mitigate the risk of exploitation.