CVE-2017-3881
Cisco IOS and IOS XE Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
IN CISA KEV
A vulnerability in the Cisco Cluster Management Protocol (CMP) processing code in Cisco IOS and Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause a reload of an affected device or remotely execute code with elevated privileges. The Cluster Management Protocol utilizes Telnet internally as a signaling and command protocol between cluster members. The vulnerability is due to the combination of two factors: (1) the failure to restrict the use of CMP-specific Telnet options only to internal, local communications between cluster members and instead accept and process such options over any Telnet connection to an affected device; and (2) the incorrect processing of malformed CMP-specific Telnet options. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending malformed CMP-specific Telnet options while establishing a Telnet session with an affected Cisco device configured to accept Telnet connections. An exploit could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code and obtain full control of the device or cause a reload of the affected device. This affects Catalyst switches, Embedded Service 2020 switches, Enhanced Layer 2 EtherSwitch Service Module, Enhanced Layer 2/3 EtherSwitch Service Module, Gigabit Ethernet Switch Module (CGESM) for HP, IE Industrial Ethernet switches, ME 4924-10GE switch, RF Gateway 10, and SM-X Layer 2/3 EtherSwitch Service Module. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvd48893.
- Vendor
- Cisco
- Product
- IOS and IOS XE
- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 (critical), scored by NVD (primary)CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 (critical), scored by 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- CWE
- CWE-20
- Published
- 2017-03-17
- NVD modified
- 2026-06-17
- NVD status
- Analyzed
CISA KEV
- Date added
- 2022-03-25
- Due date
- 2022-04-15
- Ransomware use
- Unknown
- Required action
- Apply updates per vendor instructions.
EPSS
99.0% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (percentile 99th)
FIRST EPSS, updated 17 Oct 2026. About EPSS
CVSS is severity, EPSS is likelihood, KEV means already exploited. EPSS is a statistical probability, not a certainty: a low score does not make a bug safe, and a high one does not prove it is being exploited.
References
- www.securityfocus.com (Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- www.securityfocus.com (Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- www.securitytracker.com (Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- tools.cisco.com (Vendor Advisory)
- www.exploit-db.com (Broken Link)
- www.securityfocus.com (Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- www.securityfocus.com (Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- www.securitytracker.com (Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- tools.cisco.com (Vendor Advisory)
- www.exploit-db.com (Broken Link)
- www.cisa.gov (US Government Resource)
Data last updated 18 Oct 2026. Sources: NVD API 2.0, CISA KEV catalog, FIRST EPSS. Links: NVD, CISA KEV. Metadata only. ThreatWire does not host exploit code.