CVE-2022-20701
About
Multiple vulnerabilities in Cisco Small Business RV160, RV260, RV340, and RV345 Series Routers could allow an attacker to do any of the following: Execute arbitrary code Elevate privileges Execute arbitrary commands Bypass authentication and authorization protections Fetch and run unsigned software Cause denial of service (DoS) For more information about these vulnerabilities, see the Details section of this advisory.
Rainforest analyst review
This is one of a cluster of flaws in Cisco's Small Business RV160, RV260, RV340, and RV345 series routers, and the web-based management interface is the way in. Insufficient validation lets a network attacker send crafted HTTP requests that overflow a stack buffer and write out of bounds, giving them the ability to run arbitrary code with root privileges on the device. There's no authentication step to clear first, and the same defects let an attacker sidestep authorization checks and load unsigned firmware, so a compromised router can be made to run whatever the attacker wants and stay that way across reboots.
These are edge devices sitting at the perimeter of small and mid-sized business networks, exactly the class of gear that gets deployed once and forgotten, often with the management interface reachable from the WAN side. Cisco declined to patch some of these end-of-life models, so for affected units the fix is replacement or strict access control, not an update. Treat any RV340/RV345 with an exposed web UI as a priority: restrict management to trusted internal hosts, confirm running firmware, and where the platform is unsupported, plan migration rather than hoping a patch arrives.
References
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Frequently asked questions
What is CVE-2022-20701?
Multiple vulnerabilities in Cisco Small Business RV160, RV260, RV340, and RV345 Series Routers could allow an attacker to do any of the following: Execute arbitrary code Elevate privileges Execute arbitrary commands Bypass authentication and authorization protections Fetch and run unsigned software Cause denial of service (DoS) For more information about these vulnerabilities, see the Details section of this advisory…
How severe is CVE-2022-20701?
CVE-2022-20701 carries a CVSS 3.1 base score of 10, rated critical. On the Rainforest Risk Index — which weighs the severity alongside how easy the flaw is to reach and how broad its impact is — it scores 100 out of 100, in the critical band.
How is CVE-2022-20701 exploited?
According to the CVSS vector (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H): attack vector Network, attack complexity Low, privileges required None, user interaction None. Impact on confidentiality High, integrity High and availability High.
Which products are affected by CVE-2022-20701?
Public advisories list the following as affected: rv340, rv340 firmware, rv340w, rv340w firmware, rv345, rv345 firmware, +2. Check the references on this page for the exact versions each vendor confirms.
How do I fix CVE-2022-20701?
Apply the fix the vendor published — the references on this page link to the primary advisories and patches. When patching can't happen right away, reduce the exposure of the affected component and watch it for exploitation attempts. Rainforest customers see this vulnerability correlated to their own assets and prioritized by real exposure, not by score alone.
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