Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This CVE affects several Cisco Small Business RV routers. An attacker with valid administrator credentials could abuse the web management interface to run code as root or force the router to reboot. Cisco reported no software updates for these vulnerabilities, so affected devices need exposure reduction and lifecycle review.
Executive priority
Treat this as high priority for asset owners running the affected small business routers. The credential requirement lowers broad opportunistic risk, but root code execution on perimeter routing equipment and lack of cited software updates make continued exposure a business risk.
Technical view
Cisco describes multiple improper input validation flaws in the web-based management interface of RV110W, RV130, RV130W, and RV215W routers. The issue is scored CVSS 7.2 with network attack vector, low complexity, high privileges required, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to organizations still using the named Cisco Small Business RV routers, especially where the management interface is reachable beyond trusted administrators. Exploitation requires valid administrator credentials, but impact is severe if those credentials are stolen or misused.
Exploitation context
The supplied sources do not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation evidence. Cisco states exploitation requires authenticated administrator access and crafted HTTP requests to the management interface. Successful exploitation may result in root-level code execution or denial of service.
Researcher notes
Evidence is vendor-centered and sufficient for affected models, impact, privilege requirement, and lack of Cisco software updates. The bundle does not provide exploit telemetry, detailed fixed versions, or a vendor workaround beyond reviewing Cisco guidance and reducing management-plane exposure.
Mitigation direction
- Check Cisco advisory for current product support and replacement guidance.
- Restrict web management access to trusted administrative networks only.
- Disable internet-facing management access where operationally possible.
- Rotate router administrator credentials and remove unused admin accounts.
- Plan replacement of affected devices if no supported fix is available.
Validation and detection
- Inventory for Cisco RV110W, RV130, RV130W, and RV215W routers.
- Confirm whether each device exposes web-based management remotely.
- Review administrative account lists for stale or shared credentials.
- Check logs for unexpected management access or unexplained device reloads.
- Document compensating controls where affected routers remain in service.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
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CWE-121: Exact CWE lookup
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Open ATT&CK lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-1168 mapping review
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Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.2 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.25.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.2HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- 20210113 Cisco Small Business RV110W, RV130, RV130W, and RV215W Routers Management Interface Remote Command Execution and Denial of Service VulnerabilitiesCVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_CISCO
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Stack-based Buffer Overflow
Stack-based Buffer Overflow represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.