CVE-2023-20118: Cisco Small Business RV Series Routers Command Injection Vulnerability
Advisory generated from the CVE record, CISA, Exploit Observer and VEDAS: what it is, whether it is exploited, who is affected, and how to fix and detect it.
Generated by VEDAS. Scores as of 2026-11-01 19:19 UTC. Rebuilt every few hours from cve-scores, CISA KEV and vedas-signatures. How this works and its limits.
What it is
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. 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. 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. {{value}} [“%7b%7bvalue%7d%7d”])}]]
Description quoted from the CVE record (assigned by cisco, published 2023-04-05).
Weakness: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command (‘Command Injection’)
How it can be exploited
Exploitable over the network with low attack complexity needing high privileges and no user interaction. Impact: confidentiality high, integrity high, availability none. CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
CISA assessment (SSVC): CISA assesses exploitation as active. Automatable: no. Technical impact: total.
- On CISA KEV since
- 2025-03-03
- US federal deadline
- 2025-03-24
- Ransomware use
- Not known
Public exploit evidence (Exploit Observer)
Also known as: BDU:2023-02361, CNNVD-202304-1035, EUVD-2023-24297, GHSA-gr43-pwpc-mp54
VEDAS cluster: VEDAS:GAUNTLETGAZELLE
Exploit Observer has no public exploit code that names this CVE or one of its aliases.
Research and write-ups (2)
- Research or write-up: https://blog.sekoia.io/polaredge-backdoor-qnap-cve-2023-20118-analysis
- Research or write-up: https://www.rapid7.com/db/vulnerabilities/cisco-sbr-cve-2023-20118
Vulnerability databases and vendor advisories (7)
Catalogue entries, not exploit evidence.
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/cve-2023-20118
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/enisa/EUVD-2023-24297
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-gr43-pwpc-mp54
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-20118
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-20118
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://www.cnnvd.org.cn/home/globalSearch?keyword=CNNVD-202304-1035
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://www.tenable.com/cve/CVE-2023-20118
30 more references returned by Exploit Observer did not name this CVE or an alias, so they are left out.
VEDAS data as of 2026-11-01T17:12 UTC; fetched 2026-11-02.
Live scores
- EPSS
- 0.541
very likely to be attacked soon - VEDAS
- 0.973
strong exploit evidence - On CISA KEV
- Yes, since 2025-03-03
- Detection rule
- None yet
Thin horizontal line: the “likely” (EPSS 0.10) or “strong” (VEDAS 0.90) threshold. Shaded “no data” areas are periods when cve-scores did not publish.
Who is affected
| Product | Affected | Not affected |
|---|---|---|
| Cisco Cisco Small Business RV Series Router Firmware | version 1.0.1.17 version 1.0.2.03 version 1.1.0.09 version 1.1.1.19 version 1.1.1.06 version 1.2.1.13 version 1.2.1.14 version 1.3.1.12 and 10 more ranges | Not stated |
Version ranges exactly as the CVE record states them. “Before X” means X is the first fixed version.
Exploit Observer also maps it to: cisco rv016_firmware, cisco rv042_firmware, cisco rv042g_firmware, cisco rv082_firmware, cisco rv320_firmware, cisco rv325_firmware, cisco_systems,_inc. cisco_small_business_rv016, cisco_systems,_inc. cisco_small_business_rv042, cisco_systems,_inc. cisco_small_business_rv042g, cisco_systems,_inc. cisco_small_business_rv082.
How to fix it
CISA required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
Vendor guidance:
- https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-sbr042-multi-vuln-ej76Pke5
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-20118
How to detect it
There is no open VEDAS detection rule for this bug yet. It is listed on the detection gaps page if CISA has confirmed attacks.
References
Government sources
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-20118 (government-resource)
Other references
Other databases
Where this comes from
This advisory is generated automatically by VEDAS from: CVE.org record, CISA KEV, cve-scores (EPSS and VEDAS), Exploit Observer. Text in quotes is reproduced from the source; everything else is a fixed template filled with source fields. Nothing here is written by a language model. Check the vendor advisory before acting, and read how VEDAS and Exploit Observer work, and their limits.