CVE-2022-20700
Published: March 3, 2022
Official Description
A vulnerability in Cisco Small Business RV160, RV260, RV340, and RV345 Series Routers could allow an attacker to do any of the following: Execute arbitrary code elevate privileges, execute arbitrary commands, bypass authentication and authorization protections, fetch and run unsigned software, or cause a denial of service (DoS).
CISA KEV Advisory
Cisco Small Business RV Series Routers Stack-based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
A vulnerability in Cisco Small Business RV160, RV260, RV340, and RV345 Series Routers could allow an attacker to do any of the following: Execute arbitrary code elevate privileges, execute arbitrary commands, bypass authentication and authorization protections, fetch and run unsigned software, or cause a denial of service (DoS).
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Risk Analysis
This vulnerability in Cisco Small Business RV160, RV260, RV340, and RV345 Series Routers is a critical flaw that can lead to arbitrary code execution, privilege escalation, command execution, authentication bypass, or denial of service. The high EPSS score indicates a significant likelihood of exploitation, and its presence in the KEV catalog confirms it has been actively exploited, making it an urgent concern for affected router users.
This vulnerability has been actively exploited in the wild. The broad range of potential impacts suggests it is remotely exploitable.
Apply the latest security updates and firmware for Cisco Small Business RV Series Routers. Restrict administrative access to these devices and monitor for unusual activity.
Technical Analysis
CVE-2022-20700 requires local access, meaning attackers must already have a foothold on the target system.
Exploitation requires some privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.
CISA has added CVE-2022-20700 to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, confirming active exploitation in the wild. U.S. federal agencies are required to patch this within the mandated timeframe, and all organizations should treat remediation as urgent.
Affected Vendors & Products
Exploit & PoC Resources
All References (1)
Quick Facts
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2022-20700 in threat intel feeds
- →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts
- !CISA KEV: Federal agencies must patch per BOD 22-01 timeline
- !Active exploitation confirmed — treat as P1