Cisco IOS/IOS XE Smart Install input validation

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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8.4$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in Cisco IOS and IOS XE. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the component Smart Install. Performing a manipulation results in input validation. This vulnerability was named CVE-2018-0171. The attack may be initiated remotely. In addition, an exploit is available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Cisco IOS and IOS XE (Router Operating System) (affected version not known). This affects some unknown functionality of the component Smart Install. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a input validation vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-20. The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

A vulnerability in the Smart Install feature of Cisco IOS Software and Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to trigger a reload of an affected device, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition, or to execute arbitrary code on an affected device. The vulnerability is due to improper validation of packet data. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted Smart Install message to an affected device on TCP port 4786. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause a buffer overflow on the affected device, which could have the following impacts: Triggering a reload of the device, Allowing the attacker to execute arbitrary code on the device, Causing an indefinite loop on the affected device that triggers a watchdog crash. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvg76186.

The bug was discovered 03/28/2018. The weakness was presented 03/28/2018 as cisco-sa-20180328-smi2 as confirmed advisory (Website). The advisory is shared at tools.cisco.com. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2018-0171 since 11/27/2017. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. No form of authentication is needed for exploitation. Technical details are unknown but a public exploit is available.

The exploit is shared for download at exploit-db.com. It is declared as attacked. We expect the 0-day to have been worth approximately $25k-$100k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 108722 (Cisco IOS Software Smart Install Remote Code Execution Vulnerability), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family CISCO and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 316205 (Cisco IOS and IOS XE Software Smart Install Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (cisco-sa-20180328-smi2)). The CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog lists this issue since 11/03/2021 with a due date of 05/03/2022:

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published immediately after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Exploit-DB (44451), Tenable (108722) and SecurityFocus (BID 103538†). See VDB-115176, VDB-115177, VDB-115174 and VDB-115175 for similar entries. If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Productinfo

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CVSSv4info

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CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 8.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 8.4

VulDB Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Temp Score: 7.0
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 9.8
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CVSSv2info

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Exploitinginfo

Class: Input validation
CWE: CWE-20
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Attacked
Download: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 108722
Nessus Name: Cisco IOS Software Smart Install Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Exploit-DB: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
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Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
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Suricata ID: 2025472
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Timelineinfo

11/27/2017 🔍
03/28/2018 +121 days 🔍
03/28/2018 +0 days 🔍
03/28/2018 +0 days 🔍
03/28/2018 +0 days 🔍
03/28/2018 +0 days 🔍
03/29/2018 +1 days 🔍
03/29/2018 +0 days 🔍
01/27/2025 +2496 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: cisco.com

Advisory: cisco-sa-20180328-smi2
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2018-0171 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2018-0171
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-115173

OVAL: 🔍

SecurityFocus: 103538 - Cisco IOS and IOS XE Software CVE-2018-0171 Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
SecurityTracker: 1040580

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20150108
See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 03/29/2018 09:14
Updated: 01/27/2025 21:51
Changes: 03/29/2018 09:14 (74), 01/17/2020 17:43 (6), 02/06/2021 11:56 (3), 04/19/2024 11:33 (27), 07/21/2024 04:58 (3), 09/09/2024 22:29 (1), 01/27/2025 21:51 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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