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Fencer Vulns
critical 9.8

CVE-2017-3881 kev in the critical feed json

A vulnerability in the Cisco Cluster Management Protocol (CMP) processing code in Cisco IOS and Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an unauth…

published 2017-03-17 9 y ago modified 2026-06-17 4 mo ago also EUVD-2017-12998

cvss
9.8
version 3.1, CNA
cisa kev
Exploited
added 2022-03-25
epss
99.0%
EPSS 99.0% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 99.9%
public exploits
3
Metasploit, Exploit-DB, plus a Nuclei check

Summary

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.

Patch / fix

cisa required action Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Vendor advisories

What the vendors themselves say about their products: affected, fixed or not affected, and what to do.

cisa ICSA-17-094-03 updated cvss 9.8

Rockwell Automation Allen-Bradley Stratix and Allen-Bradley ArmorStratix

  • Rockwell Automation Allen-Bradley Stratix 5400 Industrial Ethernet Switches <= 15.2(5)EA.fc4 Rockwell Automation Allen-Bradley Stratix 5410 Industrial Distribution Switches <= 15.2(5)EA.fc4 Rockwell Automation Allen-Bradley Stratix 5700 and ArmorStratix 5700 Industrial Managed Ethernet Switches <= 15.2(5)EA.fc4 Rockwell Automation Allen-Bradley Stratix 8000 Modular Managed Industrial Ethernet Switches <= 15.2(5)EA.fc4 Rockwell Automation Allen-Bradley Stratix 8300 Modular Managed Industrial Ethernet Switches <= 15.2(4a)EA5
    affected: mitigation “Cisco has created two Snort rules (SIDs), 41909 and 41910, to detect exploits associated with this vulnerability.” rockwellautomation.custhelp.com

From CISA ICS and IT advisories (CSAF, https://github.com/cisagov/CSAF), a U.S. Government work; changed: reduced to products, statuses and remediations. CISA notification · csaf

Timeline

  1. 0-day patched (Project Zero)
  2. First public exploit (Metasploit auxiliary/dos/cisco/ios_telnet_rocem)
  3. Published
  4. Added to CISA KEV
  5. CISA patch deadline
  6. CISA SSVC: exploitation active

Known exploited

Added
4 y ago
Patch by
2022-04-15 (4 y ago)
Ransomware
Not known
Required action
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Vendor, product
Cisco, IOS and IOS XE
CISA name
Cisco IOS and IOS XE Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Zero-day

Detected in real attacks while still unknown to the vendor and the public, per Google Project Zero's 0day In-the-Wild tracker.

Patched
2017-03-17
Details
project zero tracker

CISA SSVC

Exploitation
Active, exploited in the wild
Automatable
yes
Technical impact
total
Assessed
2 y ago

Exploit prediction

98.98% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 99.9% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-08).

Exploits and checks

  • Metasploit auxiliary/dos/cisco/ios_telnet_rocem Cisco IOS Telnet Denial of Service metasploit auxiliary, normal rank, 2017-03-17
  • EDB-42122 Cisco Catalyst 2960 IOS 12.2(55)SE1 - 'ROCEM' Remote Code Execution remote, 2017-04-12
  • EDB-41872 Cisco Catalyst 2960 IOS 12.2(55)SE11 - 'ROCEM' Remote Code Execution remote, 2017-04-12
  • Nuclei template Cisco IOS 12.2(55)SE11 - Remote Code Execution nuclei detection template
  • exploit-db.com https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41874/ referenced PoC, tagged "exploit" by a source, unverified

CVSS scores

assigned by version score vector
CISA ADP 3.1 9.8 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
NVD 3.1 9.8 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA 3.1 9.8 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
NVD 2.0 10.0 AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

Affected products

  • n/a Cisco IOS and IOS XE Software

Classification

Weakness
  • CWE-20 Improper Input Validation
Technology feeds

References

Sources

Fencer Vulns keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.