Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-20073

Cisco Rv340 Firmware ≤ 1.0.03.29

High EPSS
Published
05 April 2023
Modified
21 November 2024
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 5.3
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
EPSS Score 0.89 99.8th percentile
Risk Priority 70 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2023-20073 is a medium-severity Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type (CWE-434) vulnerability in Cisco Rv340 Firmware. Its CVSS base score is 5.3 (Medium).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked in the top 0.2% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV 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 in the web-based management interface of Cisco RV340, RV340W, RV345, and RV345P Dual WAN Gigabit VPN Routers allows unauthenticated remote attackers to upload arbitrary files. The issue stems from insufficient authorization enforcement on file-upload functionality and is tracked as CWE-434 with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.3.

An attacker can exploit the flaw by sending a crafted HTTP request to an affected device, resulting in the ability to place arbitrary files on the router without authentication.

The official Cisco Security Advisory cisco-sa-sb-rv-afu-EXxwA65V details the affected models and provides mitigation guidance, including available software updates.

The EPSS score for this CVE has remained stable near 0.91 since disclosure, indicating sustained but not newly emerging exploitation interest.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco RV340, RV340W, RV345, and RV345P Dual WAN Gigabit VPN Routers could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to upload arbitrary files to an affected device. This vulnerability is due to insufficient authorization…

more

enforcement mechanisms in the context of file uploads. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted HTTP request to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to upload arbitrary files to the affected device.

CWE(s)

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.
T1505 Server Software Component Persistence
Adversaries may abuse legitimate extensible development features of servers to establish persistent access to systems.
T1505.003 Web Shell Persistence
Adversaries may backdoor web servers with web shells to establish persistent access to systems.
T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter Execution
Adversaries may abuse command and script interpreters to execute commands, scripts, or binaries.
T1105 Ingress Tool Transfer Command And Control
Adversaries may transfer tools or other files from an external system into a compromised environment.
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2022-20708Same product: Cisco Rv340
CVE-2023-20007Same product: Cisco Rv340
CVE-2021-1473Same product: Cisco Rv340
CVE-2022-20699Same product: Cisco Rv340
CVE-2022-20701Same product: Cisco Rv340
CVE-2022-20707Same product: Cisco Rv340
CVE-2024-20272Same vendor: Cisco
CVE-2025-20274Same vendor: Cisco
CVE-2026-20098Same vendor: Cisco
CVE-2023-20196Same vendor: Cisco

Affected Assets

cisco
rv340 firmware
≤ 1.0.03.29
cisco
rv340w firmware
≤ 1.0.03.29
cisco
rv345 firmware
≤ 1.0.03.29
cisco
rv345p firmware
≤ 1.0.03.29

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)

Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V5.1.1

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-434

Requiring identifiable owners for portable devices reduces the attack surface for unrestricted uploads of dangerous file types via anonymous media.

addresses: CWE-434

Dangerous file uploads can be detonated in the chamber to determine malice before any production write or execution occurs.

addresses: CWE-434

Prevents unrestricted writing of arbitrary or malicious firmware by keeping hardware write-protect enabled except under tightly controlled manual procedures.

addresses: CWE-434

Scans files from external sources on download/open/execute, blocking unrestricted uploads of dangerous file types.

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-05 mostly match
prevents

Restricting execution of unauthorized software directly blocks dangerous uploaded files from running.

PR.PS-01 partial match
prevents

Hardened configuration baselines can enforce allowed file types and processing rules.

PR.PS-06 partial match
prevents

Secure development practices include input validation and file-type restrictions that prevent this weakness.

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

Configuration and acceptance testing verify that file-upload handling enforces allowed types and does not permit dangerous content to be stored or executed.

prevents

Secure-coding guidelines and security testing explicitly address restrictions on allowed file types and upload handling, reducing the risk that dangerous file uploads are accepted without validation.

prevents

Mandated testing for malicious content and known vulnerabilities reduces the likelihood that an outsourced component will contain or accept dangerous file types that could later be uploaded or executed.

mitigates

Application allow-listing and pre-use scanning of received files directly blocks the introduction of executable content that has not been vetted, eliminating the primary vector for unrestricted dangerous file uploads.

References