CVE-2023-20025 Auth bypass in Cisco Small Business RV Series Router Firmware

Critical 9.0 Published 19 Jan 2023 Updated 12 Mar 2025

Unauthenticated remote attackers can bypass authentication and gain root access on Cisco Small Business RV Series Routers via crafted HTTP requests.

Exploited in the wild: Not known
Login needed: Not needed
Attackable: Over the internet
Victim action needed: Not needed
Fix: None listed

What is CVE-2023-20025?

CVE-2023-20025 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Cisco Small Business RV Series Router Firmware, published on 19 Jan 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

Official description

A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Small Business RV016, RV042, RV042G, and RV082 Routers could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to bypass authentication on an affected device. 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 bypass authentication and gain root access on the underlying operating system.

Weakness: CWE-290, CWE-293

Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-20025?

It affects 4 products.

Products include Cisco Rv016 Firmware, Cisco Rv042 Firmware, Cisco Rv042g Firmware, Cisco Rv082 Firmware.

How do I fix CVE-2023-20025?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-20025 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

Upgrade, and rotate credentials and sessions that may have been exposed. More about Authentication bypass.

Is CVE-2023-20025 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-20025 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code: 1 proofs of concept on GitHub.

Sources

Also known as GHSA-q4cw-h889-p6jj.