{"id":"CVE-2023-20118","published":"2023-04-13T07:15:21Z","modified":"2026-06-17T05:29:31Z","title":"Cisco Small Business RV Series Routers Command Injection Vulnerability","vendor":"Cisco","product":"Small Business RV Series Routers","tier":"core","eol":null,"description":{"text":"A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Small Business Routers RV016, RV042, RV042G, RV082, RV320, and RV325 Routers could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands on an affected device.\r\n\r This vulnerability is due to improper validation of user input within incoming HTTP packets. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted HTTP request to the web-based management interface. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to gain root-level privileges and access unauthorized data. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would need to have valid administrative credentials on the affected device.\r\n\r Cisco has not and will not release software updates that address this vulnerability.   However, administrators may disable the affected feature as described in the Workarounds [\"#workarounds\"] section.\r\n\r  {{value}} [\"%7b%7bvalue%7d%7d\"])}]]","provenance":"source","from":"NVD"},"summary":{"text":"The command injection flaw lives in the web-based management interface of Cisco Small Business RV Series Routers, specifically the RV016, RV042, RV042G, RV082, RV320, and RV325 models, where user input in incoming HTTP packets is improperly validated. An attacker who has valid administrative credentials on the device and can reach its management interface remotely can send a crafted HTTP request to execute arbitrary commands with root-level privileges, gaining access to unauthorized data.","provenance":"ai","model":"claude-haiku-5-5","generatedAt":"2026-10-23T07:13:27Z"},"cvss":{"score":7.2,"severity":"HIGH","version":"3.1","vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H","provenance":"source","from":"NVD"},"epss":{"score":0.54107,"percentile":0.99003,"date":"2026-10-29","provenance":"source"},"kev":{"dateAdded":"2025-03-03","dueDate":"2025-03-24","ransomware":false,"requiredAction":"Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.","notes":"https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-sbr042-multi-vuln-ej76Pke5 ; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-20118","provenance":"source"},"vulncheckKev":{"dateAdded":"2025-02-25","exploitedFirstSeen":"2025-02-25","ransomware":false,"evidence":[{"url":"https://blog.sekoia.io/polaredge-unveiling-an-uncovered-iot-botnet/","date":"2025-02-25"},{"url":"https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/feeds/known_exploited_vulnerabilities.json","date":"2025-03-03"},{"url":"https://hivepro.com/threat-advisory/polaredge-botnet-turns-edge-devices-into-cyber-weapons/","date":"2025-03-11"},{"url":"https://blog.sekoia.io/vicioustrap-infiltrate-control-lure-turning-edge-devices-into-honeypots-en-masse/","date":"2025-05-22"},{"url":"https://censys.com/blog/2025-state-of-the-internet-digging-into-residential-proxy-infrastructure","date":"2025-08-14"},{"url":"https://assets.recordedfuture.com/insikt-report-pdfs/2025/cta-2025-0828.pdf","date":"2025-08-28"},{"url":"https://censys.com/blog/pondering-my-orb-a-look-at-polaredge-adjacent-infrastructure","date":"2025-08-28"},{"url":"https://censys.com/blog/a-look-at-polaredge-adjacent-infrastructure","date":"2025-09-23"},{"url":"https://www.enisa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2025-10/ENISA%20Threat%20Landscape%202025.pdf","date":"2025-10-09"},{"url":"https://blog.sekoia.io/polaredge-backdoor-qnap-cve-2023-20118-analysis/","date":"2025-10-14"}],"evidenceTotal":14,"provenance":"source"},"exploited":true,"otx":{"pulseCount":50,"pulses":[{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 29, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6ae20c1db17e7057ae7d9ad1","created":"2026-10-28"},{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 28, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6ae0ba7e0e2a97ff7b218819","created":"2026-10-27"},{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 27, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6adf68b85c3e852f3c111d18","created":"2026-10-26"},{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 24, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6adb740e397c3ad4799aa4cd","created":"2026-10-23"},{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 23, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6ada236fcfba2dfa730ea482","created":"2026-10-22"},{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 22, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6ad8d33a077cbb5cab524d80","created":"2026-10-21"},{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 21, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6ad78130c4d1ac2be83a8b6d","created":"2026-10-20"},{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 20, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6ad62f63c24a405a3423cc13","created":"2026-10-19"},{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 19, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6ad4dda174e5797d0bd238b7","created":"2026-10-18"},{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 18, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6ad38c22e1848f8189d1c121","created":"2026-10-17"}],"provenance":"machine"},"cwes":[{"id":"CWE-77","name":"Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command"}],"references":[{"url":"https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-sbr042-multi-vuln-ej76Pke5","tags":["Mitigation","Vendor Advisory"]},{"url":"https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-sbr042-multi-vuln-ej76Pke5","tags":["Mitigation","Vendor Advisory"]},{"url":"https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-20118","tags":["US Government Resource"]}],"techniques":[{"id":"T1068","name":"Exploitation for Privilege Escalation","tactics":["privilege-escalation"],"provenance":"source","basis":"ctid-kev","bases":["ctid-kev"],"basisDetail":"CTID Mappings Explorer KEV 07/28/2025 (ATT&CK 16.1); capability: Code Execution","mappingType":"exploitation_technique","evidence":[],"comment":"Cisco Small Business Router models RV016, RV042, RV042G, RV082, RV320, and RV325 perform improper validation of HTTP packet user input. An authenticated attacker can craft these requests and send them, leading to arbitrary command execution.","confidence":"medium","confidenceNote":"CTID KEV capability group \"code execution\" is generic"},{"id":"T1078","name":"Valid Accounts","tactics":["initial-access","persistence","privilege-escalation","stealth"],"provenance":"source","basis":"ctid-kev","bases":["ctid-kev"],"basisDetail":"CTID Mappings Explorer KEV 07/28/2025 (ATT&CK 16.1); capability: Code Execution","mappingType":"exploitation_technique","evidence":[],"comment":"Cisco Small Business Router models RV016, RV042, RV042G, RV082, RV320, and RV325 perform improper validation of HTTP packet user input. An authenticated attacker can craft these requests and send them, leading to arbitrary command execution.","confidence":"medium","confidenceNote":"CTID KEV capability group \"code execution\" is generic"},{"id":"T1059","name":"Command and Scripting Interpreter","tactics":["execution"],"provenance":"source","basis":"ctid-kev","bases":["ctid-kev"],"basisDetail":"CTID Mappings Explorer KEV 07/28/2025 (ATT&CK 16.1); capability: Code Execution","mappingType":"primary_impact","evidence":[],"comment":"Cisco Small Business Router models RV016, RV042, RV042G, RV082, RV320, and RV325 perform improper validation of HTTP packet user input. An authenticated attacker can craft these requests and send them, leading to arbitrary command execution.","confidence":"medium","confidenceNote":"CTID KEV capability group \"code execution\" is generic"},{"id":"T1505.003","name":"Web Shell","tactics":["persistence"],"provenance":"source","basis":"ctid-kev","bases":["ctid-kev"],"basisDetail":"CTID Mappings Explorer KEV 07/28/2025 (ATT&CK 16.1); capability: Code Execution","mappingType":"secondary_impact","evidence":[],"comment":"Cisco Small Business Router models RV016, RV042, RV042G, RV082, RV320, and RV325 perform improper validation of HTTP packet user input. An authenticated attacker can craft these requests and send them, leading to arbitrary command execution.","confidence":"medium","confidenceNote":"CTID KEV capability group \"code execution\" is generic"}],"reports":[],"affected":[],"advisories":[],"euvd":{"id":"EUVD-2023-24297","url":"https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/vulnerability/EUVD-2023-24297","exploited":true,"exploitedSince":"2025-03-03","provenance":"source"},"exploits":[],"exploitSources":null,"exploitRefs":[],"flow":[{"stage":"exploitation","techniques":["T1078","T1068"],"provenance":"source"},{"stage":"primary","techniques":["T1059"],"provenance":"source"},{"stage":"secondary","techniques":["T1505.003"],"provenance":"source"}],"timeline":[{"date":"2023-04-13","kind":"published","label":"Published (NVD)","url":"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-20118","provenance":"source"},{"date":"2025-02-25","kind":"exploited-reported","label":"Exploitation first reported (VulnCheck KEV evidence)","url":"https://blog.sekoia.io/polaredge-unveiling-an-uncovered-iot-botnet/","provenance":"source"},{"date":"2025-03-03","kind":"kev","label":"Added to CISA KEV","url":"https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog","provenance":"source"},{"date":"2025-03-03","kind":"euvd-exploited","label":"ENISA EUVD: exploited","url":"https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/vulnerability/EUVD-2023-24297","provenance":"source"}],"speed":{"daysToPublicExploit":null,"firstExploitFrom":null,"daysToKev":690},"priority":{"score":62.8,"factors":[{"name":"In a KEV catalog","points":35.0,"detail":"listed in CISA KEV and VulnCheck KEV"},{"name":"Recent KEV listing","points":0.0,"detail":"added 611 days ago"},{"name":"Known ransomware use","points":0.0,"detail":"not known"},{"name":"EPSS percentile","points":19.8,"detail":"percentile 0.9900"},{"name":"Named in threat reports","points":0.0,"detail":"0 reports"},{"name":"Public exploit code","points":0.0,"detail":"none found"},{"name":"Mentioned in OTX pulses","points":3.0,"detail":"50 pulses"},{"name":"CVSS severity","points":5.04,"detail":"base score 7.2"},{"name":"End-of-life product","points":0.0,"detail":"supported or unknown"}]}}