CVE-2021-1550 : What You Need to Know

Cisco Small Business 100, 300, and 500 Series Wireless Access Points are affected by command injection vulnerabilities that could be exploited by a remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges on the device. These vulnerabilities stem from improper validation of user input.

Understanding CVE-2021-1550

This CVE involves multiple vulnerabilities in the web-based management interface of specific Cisco Small Business Wireless Access Points, allowing an authenticated remote attacker to perform command injection attacks.

What is CVE-2021-1550?

The CVE-2021-1550 pertains to command injection vulnerabilities in Cisco Small Business 100, 300, and 500 Series Wireless Access Points, enabling attackers to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges by exploiting improper user input validation through crafted HTTP requests.

The Impact of CVE-2021-1550

The impact of CVE-2021-1550 is rated as medium severity with a CVSS base score of 4.7. While no malicious exploitation has been reported, a successful attack could grant attackers root access to the affected device by leveraging administrative credentials.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-1550

The technical details of CVE-2021-1550 highlight the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, as well as the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises due to inadequate validation of user-supplied data in the web-based management interface, facilitating command injection attacks when manipulated by an authenticated attacker.

Affected Systems and Versions

This vulnerability affects certain Cisco Small Business 100, 300, and 500 Series Wireless Access Points. The product versions impacted are listed as 'n/a'.

Exploitation Mechanism

To exploit CVE-2021-1550, an attacker must send specifically crafted HTTP requests to the affected device's web management interface while possessing valid administrative credentials. Successful exploitation can result in the execution of unauthorized commands with root privileges.

Mitigation and Prevention

Taking immediate steps, implementing long-term security practices, and applying recommended patches are essential to mitigate the risks posed by CVE-2021-1550.

Immediate Steps to Take

Immediately enforcing strong administrative credential management practices, monitoring network traffic for suspicious behavior, and limiting access to the web-based management interface can help mitigate immediate risks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regular security training for administrators, restricting network access to authenticated users, and keeping all software and systems up to date are vital for long-term security.

Patching and Updates

Applying patches provided by Cisco for affected devices is crucial to safeguard against CVE-2021-1550 and ensure the security of wireless access points.