CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2023-20007NVD status: Modified

Cisco Small Business RV Series Router Firmware: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command

CVE-2023-20007 is a high-severity improper neutralization of special elements used in an OS command vulnerability in Cisco Small Business RV Series Router Firmware from Cisco, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.2 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. Affected Cisco Small Business RV Series Router Firmware versions: 1.0.00.29; 1.0.00.33; 1.0.01.16, and others listed below. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.7% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 54% of scored CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update Rv340 Firmware to 1.0.03.29 or a later version.
  2. Update Rv340w Firmware to 1.0.03.29 or a later version.
  3. Update Rv345 Firmware to 1.0.03.29 or a later version.
  4. Read the advisory on sec.cloudapps.cisco.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
CiscoCisco Small Business RV Series Router Firmware1.0.00.29; 1.0.00.33; 1.0.01.16; 1.0.01.17; 1.0.01.18; 1.0.01.20; 1.0.02.16; 1.0.03.15; and 11 more rangesNot stated
CiscoRv340 Firmwarebefore 1.0.03.291.0.03.29
CiscoRv340w Firmwarebefore 1.0.03.291.0.03.29
CiscoRv345 Firmwarebefore 1.0.03.291.0.03.29
CiscoRv345p Firmwarebefore 1.0.03.291.0.03.29

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.14.7MediumCNA (cisco.com)
CVSS 3.17.2HighNVD

Official description

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 or cause the web-based management process on the device to restart unexpectedly, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition. The attacker must have valid administrator credentials. This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input to the web-based management interface. 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 or cause the web-based management process to restart, resulting in a DoS condition.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command

The product constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command before it is sent to a downstream component.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • If at all possible, use library calls rather than external processes to recreate the desired functionality.
  • For any data that will be used to generate a command to be executed, keep as much of that data out of external control as possible. For example, in web applications, this may require storing the data locally in the session's state instead of sending it out to the client in a hidden form field.
  • For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.

More Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command vulnerabilities (CWE-78)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Small Business RV Series Router Firmware

All Cisco Small Business RV Series Router Firmware vulnerabilities

Recent Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command vulnerabilities

Spotted an error? Tell us.