Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This flaw affects Cisco Small Business RV160 and RV260 Series VPN routers. An unauthenticated attacker who can reach the web management interface could make the device run operating-system commands with root privileges. That creates real operational risk for exposed branch, small office, or edge VPN routers.
Executive priority
Treat as high priority for exposed edge routers. Remote unauthenticated root-level command execution can affect availability and device integrity, even with Cisco’s noted command-parameter limitation. Prioritize internet-exposed management interfaces first.
Technical view
CVE-2021-1602 is a CWE-78 command injection issue in the web-based management interface. Cisco attributes it to insufficient input validation. Exploitation requires a crafted request and no authentication, but Cisco notes only commands without parameters can be executed. CVSS v3.1 is 8.2 high.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely where affected RV160, RV160W, RV260, RV260P, or RV260W VPN routers have their web-based management interface reachable from untrusted networks. The bundle does not provide affected firmware version ranges.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. The vendor-described attack path is remote, unauthenticated access to the web management interface using a crafted request. No exploit code or exploitation-in-the-wild evidence is provided in the bundle.
Researcher notes
Key evidence gaps are firmware version ranges, fixed release details, and exploitation status beyond the advisory summary. Analysis should stay model-specific and avoid assuming impact on other Cisco RV products. Validation should focus on reachability and vendor advisory comparison.
Mitigation direction
- Review Cisco advisory for affected releases, fixed firmware, and workarounds.
- Update affected routers according to Cisco guidance where applicable.
- Restrict web management access to trusted administrative networks only.
- Remove internet exposure for the management interface where possible.
- Prioritize replacement planning if devices cannot receive vendor fixes.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Cisco RV160 and RV260 Series VPN routers across all sites.
- Identify whether web-based management is reachable from untrusted networks.
- Compare installed firmware and model details against Cisco advisory guidance.
- Confirm remediation status after firmware or access-control changes.
- Check vendor guidance before performing any security testing.
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-78: Command execution behavior lookup
Command injection weaknesses can lead defenders to review execution techniques and command interpreter telemetry. 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 lookupCVE-2021-1602 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
- High
- CVSS
- 8.2 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/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:N/I:L/A:H3.94.2Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
8.2HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- 20210804 Cisco Small Business RV160 and RV260 Series VPN Routers Remote Command Execution VulnerabilityCVE 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.
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.