CVE-2023-20025Network attack vector

Root access via spoofed HTTP Referer

Published Jan 19, 2023 · Updated Mar 12, 2025

Authentication bypass in Cisco Small Business RV016, RV042, RV042G, and RV082 Routers allows remote attackers to gain root access. The web management interface treats the attacker-controlled HTTP Referer field as an authentication signal instead of validating a strong credential. No credentials or user interaction are required, but the crafted request must reach the device’s web-based management interface.

CVSS severity9.0
Critical
EPSS probability1.63%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authentication bypass in Cisco Small Business RV016, RV042, RV042G, and RV082 Routers allows remote attackers to gain root access. The web management interface treats the attacker-controlled HTTP Referer field as an authentication signal instead of validating a strong credential. No credentials or user interaction are required, but the crafted request must reach the device’s web-based management interface.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-20025
Published
Jan 19, 2023
Updated
Mar 12, 2025
Vendor
ClamAV
Product
Cisco Small Business RV Series Router Firmware
Classifications
CWE-293, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 19, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 12, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=1.3.12.19-tm
  2. Affected versionversion=1.3.12.6-tm
  3. Affected versionversion=1.3.13.02-tm
  4. Affected versionversion=1.3.9.8-tm
  5. Affected versionversion=2.0.0.19-tm
  6. Affected versionversion=2.0.2.01-tm
  7. Affected versionversion=3.0.0.19-tm
  8. Affected versionversion=3.0.0.1-tm
  9. Affected versionversion=3.0.2.01-tm
  10. Affected versionversion=4.0.0.7
  11. Affected versionversion=4.0.2.08-tm
  12. Affected versionversion=4.0.3.03-tm
  13. Affected versionversion=4.0.4.02-tm
  14. Affected versionversion=4.1.0.02-tm
  15. Affected versionversion=4.1.1.01
  16. Affected versionversion=4.2.1.02
  17. Affected versionversion=4.2.2.08
  18. Affected versionversion=4.2.3.03
  19. Affected versionversion=4.2.3.06
  20. Affected versionversion=4.2.3.07
  21. Affected versionversion=4.2.3.08
  22. Affected versionversion=4.2.3.09
  23. Affected versionversion=4.2.3.10
  24. Affected versionversion=4.2.3.14

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

ClamAV · Cisco Small Business RV Series Router Firmwareversion=1.3.12.19-tm; version=1.3.12.6-tm; version=1.3.13.02-tm; version=1.3.9.8-tm; version=2.0.0.19-tm; version=2.0.2.01-tm; version=3.0.0.19-tm; version=3.0.0.1-tm; version=3.0.2.01-tm; version=4.0.0.7; version=4.0.2.08-tm; version=4.0.3.03-tm; version=4.0.4.02-tm; version=4.1.0.02-tm; version=4.1.1.01; version=4.2.1.02; version=4.2.2.08; version=4.2.3.03; version=4.2.3.06; version=4.2.3.07; version=4.2.3.08; version=4.2.3.09; version=4.2.3.10; version=4.2.3.14

Published CVSS scores

9.0Cisco Systems, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-293Using Referer Field for Authentication
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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