Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a critical remote code execution issue in several Cisco Small Business VPN routers. An unauthenticated attacker who can reach the web management interface could run code as root, giving full device control. Treat affected, reachable routers as high-priority infrastructure risk.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation immediately for any affected router with reachable web management. Compromise could give an attacker root-level control of the network edge device, creating business risk for traffic interception, disruption, and further intrusion.
Technical view
CVE-2021-1294 covers multiple web management interface flaws in Cisco RV160, RV160W, RV260, RV260P, and RV260W VPN routers. Improper HTTP request validation can allow unauthenticated remote arbitrary code execution as root. CVSS v3.1 is 9.8 with network attack vector and no user interaction.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely where affected router web management interfaces are reachable from the internet, partner networks, guest networks, or broad internal networks. The source bundle does not provide affected firmware version ranges beyond Cisco Small Business RV Series Router Firmware.
Exploitation context
The source bundle and KEV flag do not show confirmed active exploitation. However, the vulnerability is remotely reachable, unauthenticated, low complexity, and can execute code as root, so reachable management interfaces create serious practical risk.
Researcher notes
The issue is tied to improper HTTP request validation in the web-based management interface and maps to CWE-472 in the bundle. Evidence is incomplete on exact vulnerable firmware versions and exploit availability; rely on Cisco’s advisory for authoritative version and fix details.
Mitigation direction
- Check Cisco’s advisory for affected firmware and vendor-recommended fixed versions.
- Restrict web management access to trusted administrative networks only.
- Remove internet exposure for affected router management interfaces.
- Prioritize replacement or remediation for unsupported or unpatchable devices.
- Monitor router management logs for unusual HTTP request activity.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Cisco RV160, RV160W, RV260, RV260P, and RV260W devices.
- Confirm each device firmware against Cisco’s advisory guidance.
- Verify management interfaces are not reachable from untrusted networks.
- Review firewall rules controlling access to router administration.
- Document remediation status for every affected device.
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
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-472: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
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-2021-1294 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Critical
- CVSS
- 9.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H3.95.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
9.8CriticalVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- 20210203 Cisco Small Business RV160, RV160W, RV260, RV260P, and RV260W VPN Routers Remote Code Execution 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.
External Control of Assumed-Immutable Web Parameter
External Control of Assumed-Immutable Web Parameter represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.