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Yes—if you use one of Cisco’s six affected Small Business RV router families, the device is in scope for at least some of the vulnerabilities in Cisco’s advisory. The most severe flaw, CVE-2023-20025, is an authentication bypass that can give an unauthenticated remote attacker root access, but it affects only four of the six families. Cisco says it will not issue software updates for the flaws; its mitigation is to disable remote management and block WAN access to ports 443 and 60443, then plan a hardware replacement.
Which Cisco RV routers are affected?
Cisco’s advisory, first published January 11, 2023 and updated March 7, 2025, covers the RV016, RV042, RV042G, RV082, RV320, and RV325. The affected models vary by CVE:
| Vulnerability | Affected router families | What an attacker needs | Cisco CVSS base score |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2023-20025 | RV016, RV042, RV042G, RV082 | A crafted HTTP request to the web management interface; no authentication is required. | 9.0 (Critical) |
| CVE-2023-20026 | RV016, RV042, RV042G, RV082, RV320, RV325 | A crafted HTTP request and valid administrator credentials. | 6.5 (Medium) |
| CVE-2023-20118 | RV016, RV042, RV042G, RV082, RV320, RV325 | A crafted HTTP request and valid administrator credentials. | 6.5 (Medium) |
These are Cisco’s severity scores, not an estimate of how many routers are exposed or the likelihood that a particular device has been compromised. The command execution flaws are separate from the authentication bypass; they do not share its unauthenticated access requirement. Cisco’s advisory lists the affected models and technical details for each CVE.
What can an attacker do?
CVE-2023-20025: authentication bypass and root access
On the RV016, RV042, RV042G, or RV082, a remote attacker could send a crafted HTTP request to the web management interface and bypass authentication. Cisco says successful exploitation could provide root access. The flaw is the critical issue in the advisory, with a Cisco CVSS base score of 9.0.
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CVE-2023-20026 and CVE-2023-20118: command execution
These two vulnerabilities affect all six router families in the advisory. Cisco describes remote command execution through crafted HTTP requests, but exploitation requires valid administrator credentials. Cisco rates each Medium, with a CVSS base score of 6.5. Do not treat that credential requirement as a protection against the separate authentication bypass.
Can Cisco patch the affected routers?
No. Cisco says it has not released and will not release software updates for the three vulnerabilities in the 2023 advisory. The company also says there are no workarounds that address the flaws. Its recommended mitigation reduces exposure; it is not a patch or a complete fix.
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How to reduce exposure while you plan a replacement
- Disable remote management. Use the router’s management settings to turn off remote access to its web interface. The Cisco advisory does not specify a menu path, so labels may differ by model or software version.
- Block WAN access to ports 443 and 60443. Apply the restriction at the network boundary or through the router’s available controls so these ports cannot be reached from the WAN.
- Confirm local administration still works. Cisco says the routers remain accessible through the LAN interface after this mitigation.
- Assess operational impact. Cisco advises administrators to evaluate whether the mitigation fits their environment and could affect network function or performance.
- Arrange hardware migration. Because no software fix is coming, treat the mitigation as an interim risk-reduction measure rather than a reason to keep the router indefinitely.
These measures address exposure paths identified by Cisco; they do not remove the vulnerabilities. See Cisco’s mitigation guidance for the advisory’s wording and scope.
What does Cisco say about exploitation?
Cisco’s advisory says its Product Security Incident Response Team was aware of proof-of-concept exploit code for CVE-2023-20025 and CVE-2023-20026. In an update dated March 7, 2025, Cisco added that it had become aware in March 2025 of additional attempted exploitation of some vulnerabilities described in the advisory. That report does not establish that every listed flaw—or every affected router—is currently being exploited.
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What should replace an end-of-life Cisco RV router?
Cisco recommends upgrading the hardware to Meraki or a Cisco 1000 Series Integrated Services Router. It does not identify one replacement model as suitable for every affected network, so select a system against the requirements of the site rather than assuming a direct model-for-model swap.
- Network requirements: Check WAN connections, VPN needs, expected throughput, memory, and whether wireless or specific interfaces are required.
- Configuration compatibility: Verify that replacement hardware supports the network’s existing hardware and software configurations, and plan for any settings that must be rebuilt or changed.
- Lifecycle and support: Confirm current product availability, software support, and the support lifecycle for the exact model under consideration.
- Total operating cost: Compare the full cost of the equipment and any ongoing services or support needed for your deployment.
Cisco advises customers to confirm that new equipment meets network needs, has sufficient memory, and supports existing hardware and software configurations. If those requirements are unclear, Cisco recommends contacting TAC or a contracted maintenance provider. Its advisory names migration directions, not a universal compatibility guarantee.
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Why this is also a lifecycle issue
A separate Cisco advisory published October 2, 2024 disclosed additional denial-of-service and remote command execution vulnerabilities affecting the RV042, RV042G, RV320, and RV325. Cisco says those products were past their respective End of Software Maintenance dates and it would not release updates for those issues. Cisco also said it would continue evaluating and disclosing vulnerabilities affecting the products until their respective Last Dates of Support. These are additional vulnerabilities, not the three CVEs in the 2023 advisory. Read Cisco’s 2024 advisory.
Quick Recap
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