Cyber Resilience

CVE-2019-15271

RCE in Cisco Rv016 Multi-Wan Vpn Firmware ≤ 4.2.3.10

CISA KEVActive ExploitationEUVD ExploitedRCEDeserialization
Published
26 November 2019
Modified
28 October 2025
KEV Added
08 June 2022
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 8.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.060 93th percentile
Risk Priority 90 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2019-15271 is a high-severity Deserialization of Untrusted Data (CWE-502) vulnerability in Cisco Rv016 Multi-Wan Vpn Firmware. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked in the top 7% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; CISA has added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary

Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.

A vulnerability tracked as CVE-2019-15271 exists in the web-based management interface of certain Cisco Small Business RV Series Routers. The flaw is caused by insufficient input validation of HTTP payloads and is associated with CWE-502. It permits an authenticated remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges on affected devices.

An attacker who possesses either valid administrative credentials or an active session token can exploit the issue by submitting a crafted HTTP request to the management interface. Successful exploitation grants full root-level command execution, potentially allowing complete control over the router's configuration and traffic.

Cisco's security advisory provides mitigation guidance including software updates for impacted RV Series models, while CISA lists the CVE in its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities, underscoring the importance of applying patches promptly to prevent remote compromise.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of certain Cisco Small Business RV Series Routers could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges. The attacker must have either a valid credential or an active session…

more

token. The vulnerability is due to lack of input validation of the HTTP payload. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a malicious HTTP request to the web-based management interface of the targeted device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute commands with root privileges.

CWE(s)
KEV Date Added
08 June 2022

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access
Adversaries may attempt to exploit a weakness in an Internet-facing host or system to initially access a network.
T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution Execution
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in client applications to execute code.
T1210 Exploitation of Remote Services Lateral Movement
Adversaries may exploit remote services to gain unauthorized access to internal systems once inside of a network.
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2026-20131Same vendor: Ciscoboth on KEV
CVE-2018-0147Same vendor: Ciscoboth on KEV
CVE-2024-20253Same vendor: Cisco
CVE-2023-20102Same vendor: Cisco
CVE-2017-9805Same vendor: Ciscoboth on KEV
CVE-2025-20275Same vendor: Cisco
CVE-2025-20276Same vendor: Cisco
CVE-2018-15381Same vendor: Cisco
CVE-2025-20124Same vendor: Cisco
CVE-2017-12234Same vendor: Ciscoboth on KEV

Affected Assets

cisco
rv016 multi-wan vpn firmware
≤ 4.2.3.10
cisco
rv042 dual wan vpn firmware
≤ 4.2.3.10
cisco
rv042g dual gigabit wan vpn firmware
≤ 4.2.3.10
cisco
rv082 dual wan vpn firmware
≤ 4.2.3.10

Mitigating Controls

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

addresses: CWE-502

Penetration testing supplies malicious serialized objects, detecting unsafe deserialization and supporting corrective actions.

addresses: CWE-502

Evaluation of untrusted data handling (deserialization testing) reveals unsafe processing, which the required remediation process addresses.

addresses: CWE-502

Untrusted serialized data can be deserialized and observed inside the chamber, blocking gadget-chain exploitation outside the sandbox.

addresses: CWE-502

Validates or rejects untrusted serialized data before deserialization occurs.

addresses: CWE-502

Identifies and blocks malicious code introduced through deserialization of untrusted data at system boundaries.

addresses: CWE-502

Integrity verification of serialized information can detect tampering before deserialization occurs.

addresses: CWE-502

Provenance of associated data allows detection of untrusted sources before deserialization or processing occurs.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-02 none match
prevents

PR.PS-02 addresses only post-deployment updates/patching and cannot prevent introduction of unsafe deserialization code, yet it can remediate some instances when the flaw exists in outdated libraries or components.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

finds

Security testing includes validation of deserialization routines and the use of untrusted data, reducing the likelihood that unsafe object reconstruction will be deployed.

prevents

Requiring vetted libraries, regular updates and SAST before release reduces the likelihood that deserialization logic will accept and act on attacker-controlled serialized objects.

finds

Regular scanning of third-party libraries and timely patching reduce the likelihood that unsafe deserialization vulnerabilities remain active.

none

Mandatory malware scanning of data received over networks or storage media intercepts malicious serialized payloads before they are deserialized by the target application.

References