CWE-293
Weakness AllowedUsing Referer Field for Authentication
Abstraction: Variant · Status: Draft
The referer field in HTTP requests can be easily modified and, as such, is not a valid means of message integrity checking.
Mapping guidance
This CWE entry is at the Variant level of abstraction, which is a preferred level of abstraction for mapping to the root causes of vulnerabilities.
Carefully read both the name and description to ensure that this mapping is an appropriate fit. Do not try to 'force' a mapping to a lower-level Base/Variant simply to comply with this preferred level of abstraction.
Modes of introduction
COMMISSION: This weakness refers to an incorrect design related to an architectural security tactic.
Detection methods
Automated Static Analysis
Automated static analysis, commonly referred to as Static Application Security Testing (SAST), can find some instances of this weakness by analyzing source code (or binary/compiled code) without having to execute it. Typically, this is done by building a model of data flow and control flow, then searching for potentially-vulnerable patterns that connect "sources" (origins of input) with "sinks" (destinations where the data interacts with external components, a lower layer such as the OS, etc.)
Effectiveness: High
Content history
updated Alternate_Terms, Background_Details, Common_Consequences, Relationships, Relevant_Properties, Taxonomy_Mappings
updated Common_Consequences
updated Common_Consequences, Demonstrative_Examples, References, Relationships
updated Demonstrative_Examples
updated Relationships, Taxonomy_Mappings
updated Applicable_Platforms, Modes_of_Introduction, Relationships, Relevant_Properties
updated Relationships
updated References
updated Detection_Factors, Relationships
updated Mapping_Notes
updated Relationships, Weakness_Ordinalities
2 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.
CVE-2023-20025 (GCVE-0-2023-20025)
Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2023-01-19 01:33 – Updated: 2025-03-12 16:18- CWE-293 - Using Referer Field for Authentication
| Vendor | Product | Version | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco | Cisco Small Business RV Series Router Firmware |
Affected:
2.0.0.19-tm
Affected: 2.0.2.01-tm Affected: 1.3.12.19-tm Affected: 1.3.12.6-tm Affected: 1.3.13.02-tm Affected: 1.3.9.8-tm Affected: 4.0.0.7 Affected: 4.0.2.08-tm Affected: 4.0.3.03-tm Affected: 4.0.4.02-tm Affected: 4.2.1.02 Affected: 4.2.2.08 Affected: 4.2.3.03 Affected: 4.2.3.06 Affected: 4.2.3.07 Affected: 4.2.3.08 Affected: 4.2.3.09 Affected: 4.2.3.10 Affected: 4.2.3.14 Affected: 3.0.0.1-tm Affected: 3.0.0.19-tm Affected: 3.0.2.01-tm Affected: 4.1.1.01 Affected: 4.1.0.02-tm |
{
"containers": {
"adp": [
{
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2024-08-02T08:57:35.838Z",
"orgId": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
"shortName": "CVE"
},
"references": [
{
"name": "cisco-sa-sbr042-multi-vuln-ej76Pke5",
"tags": [
"x_transferred"
],
"url": "https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-sbr042-multi-vuln-ej76Pke5"
}
],
"title": "CVE Program Container"
},
{
"metrics": [
{
"other": {
"content": {
"id": "CVE-2023-20025",
"options": [
{
"Exploitation": "none"
},
{
"Automatable": "no"
},
{
"Technical Impact": "total"
}
],
"role": "CISA Coordinator",
"timestamp": "2024-10-28T16:19:30.025204Z",
"version": "2.0.3"
},
"type": "ssvc"
}
}
],
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2024-10-28T16:41:32.942Z",
"orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
"shortName": "CISA-ADP"
},
"title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
}
],
"cna": {
"affected": [
{
"product": "Cisco Small Business RV Series Router Firmware",
"vendor": "Cisco",
"versions": [
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "2.0.0.19-tm"
},
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "2.0.2.01-tm"
},
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "1.3.12.19-tm"
},
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "1.3.12.6-tm"
},
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "1.3.13.02-tm"
},
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "1.3.9.8-tm"
},
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "4.0.0.7"
},
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "4.0.2.08-tm"
},
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "4.0.3.03-tm"
},
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "4.0.4.02-tm"
},
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "4.2.1.02"
},
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "4.2.2.08"
},
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "4.2.3.03"
},
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "4.2.3.06"
},
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "4.2.3.07"
},
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "4.2.3.08"
},
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "4.2.3.09"
},
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "4.2.3.10"
},
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "4.2.3.14"
},
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "3.0.0.1-tm"
},
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "3.0.0.19-tm"
},
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "3.0.2.01-tm"
},
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "4.1.1.01"
},
{
"status": "affected",
"version": "4.1.0.02-tm"
}
]
}
],
"descriptions": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Small Business RV016, RV042, RV042G, and RV082 Routers could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to bypass authentication on an affected device.\r\n\r This vulnerability is due to improper validation of user input within incoming HTTP packets. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted HTTP request to the web-based management interface. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to bypass authentication and gain root access on the underlying operating system."
}
],
"exploits": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "The Cisco Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT) is aware that proof-of-concept exploit code is available for vulnerabilities CVE-2023-20025 and CVE-2023-20026 that are described in this advisory.\r\n\r\nIn March 2025, the Cisco PSIRT became aware of additional attempted exploitation of some of these vulnerabilities in the wild. Cisco continues to strongly recommend that customers upgrade their hardware to Meraki or Cisco 1000 Series Integrated Services Routers to remediate these vulnerabilities."
}
],
"metrics": [
{
"cvssV3_1": {
"attackComplexity": "HIGH",
"attackVector": "NETWORK",
"availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
"baseScore": 9,
"baseSeverity": "CRITICAL",
"confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
"integrityImpact": "HIGH",
"privilegesRequired": "NONE",
"scope": "CHANGED",
"userInteraction": "NONE",
"vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"version": "3.1"
},
"format": "cvssV3_1"
}
],
"problemTypes": [
{
"descriptions": [
{
"cweId": "CWE-293",
"description": "Using Referer Field for Authentication",
"lang": "en",
"type": "cwe"
}
]
}
],
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2025-03-12T16:18:58.629Z",
"orgId": "d1c1063e-7a18-46af-9102-31f8928bc633",
"shortName": "cisco"
},
"references": [
{
"name": "cisco-sa-sbr042-multi-vuln-ej76Pke5",
"url": "https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-sbr042-multi-vuln-ej76Pke5"
}
],
"source": {
"advisory": "cisco-sa-sbr042-multi-vuln-ej76Pke5",
"defects": [
"CSCwd47551"
],
"discovery": "EXTERNAL"
}
}
},
"cveMetadata": {
"assignerOrgId": "d1c1063e-7a18-46af-9102-31f8928bc633",
"assignerShortName": "cisco",
"cveId": "CVE-2023-20025",
"datePublished": "2023-01-19T01:33:39.023Z",
"dateReserved": "2022-10-27T18:47:50.309Z",
"dateUpdated": "2025-03-12T16:18:58.629Z",
"state": "PUBLISHED"
},
"dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
"dataVersion": "5.1"
}
GHSA-Q4CW-H889-P6JJ
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-01-20 09:30 – Updated: 2023-02-01 03:30A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Small Business RV042 Series Routers could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to bypass authentication on the affected device. This vulnerability is due to incorrect user input validation of incoming HTTP packets. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted requests to the web-based management interface. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to gain root privileges on the affected device.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2023-20025"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-20",
"CWE-290",
"CWE-293"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2023-01-20T07:15:00Z",
"severity": "CRITICAL"
},
"details": "A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Small Business RV042 Series Routers could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to bypass authentication on the affected device. This vulnerability is due to incorrect user input validation of incoming HTTP packets. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted requests to the web-based management interface. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to gain root privileges on the affected device.",
"id": "GHSA-q4cw-h889-p6jj",
"modified": "2023-02-01T03:30:29Z",
"published": "2023-01-20T09:30:31Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-20025"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-sbr042-multi-vuln-ej76Pke5"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
Mitigation
In order to usefully check if a given action is authorized, some means of strong authentication and method protection must be used. Use other means of authorization that cannot be simply spoofed. Possibilities include a username/password or certificate.
No CAPEC attack patterns related to this CWE.