Cisco IOS and IOS XE SNMP Subsystem Remote Code Execution and DoS Vulnerability (CVE-2017-6738)
Executive & SecOps Summary
SECOPS ASSESSMENTCisco IOS and IOS XE Software with SNMP enabled and affected MIBs/OIDs not explicitly excluded
Authenticated remote attackers can execute arbitrary code with full system control or trigger a device reload by sending crafted SNMP packets
Apply official software updates via Cisco IOS Software Checker, or implement SNMPv3 hardening and MIB filtering workarounds
Affected Products & Version Scope
Remediation & Live Workaround Commands
PATCH & WORKAROUND1. Official Patch & Version Upgrade Commands
Refer to the Cisco IOS Software Checker to identify and upgrade to a fixed software release for your specific hardware platform.
2. Temporary Workaround & Hardening Configuration
If patching is not immediately feasible, restrict SNMP access using Access Control Lists (ACLs) and exclude vulnerable MIBs using SNMP views.
! 1. Define an ACL to restrict SNMP access to trusted management hosts only
ip access-list standard SNMP_ALLOW_ACL
permit 10.1.1.0 0.0.0.255
deny any log
! 2. Apply the ACL to the SNMP community string and change default strings
no snmp-server community public RO
no snmp-server community private RW
snmp-server community Complex_RO_String RO SNMP_ALLOW_ACL
! 3. Configure SNMP View to exclude potentially vulnerable MIBs
snmp-server view BLOCK_VIEW ciscoFlashMIB excluded
snmp-server community Complex_RO_String view BLOCK_VIEW RO SNMP_ALLOW_ACL3. Log Audit & IoC Verification Commands
Verify if SNMP is enabled and inspect system logs for unexpected reloads or crashes.
! Check if SNMP is running on the device
show running-config | include snmp-server
! Check the last boot reason and crash history
show version | include returned to ROM
show stacksStop Exposing VPN Ports to the Internet — Switch to Zero-Trust Access
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Technical Root Cause & Exploitation Mechanics
1. Vulnerability Overview & Root Cause
This vulnerability (CVE-2017-6738) exists in the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) subsystem of Cisco IOS and IOS XE Software. The root cause is a buffer overflow condition triggered by insufficient boundary validation when processing crafted SNMP packets. This allows an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory spaces.
2. Exploitation Mechanics & Attack Scenario
An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted SNMP packets via IPv4 or IPv6 directly to the target system. The vulnerability affects all SNMP versions (v1, v2c, and v3):
- SNMP v1/v2c: The attacker must know the read-only community string of the target system.
- SNMP v3: The attacker must possess valid user credentials.
Upon receiving the malicious OID request, the SNMP daemon fails to handle the payload size, leading to a buffer overflow that can hijack the execution flow or crash the device.
3. Infrastructure & Business Impact
This vulnerability is actively exploited in the wild and is listed in the CISA KEV catalog. A successful exploit allows attackers to execute arbitrary code and gain full control of critical routing and switching infrastructure. Alternatively, it can cause a system reload, leading to severe network downtime and business disruption.
Official Vendor Advisories & References
The Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) subsystem of Cisco IOS and IOS XE Software contains multiple vulnerabilities that could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to remotely execute code on an affected system or cause an affected system to reload. An attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities by sending a crafted SNMP packet to an affected system via IPv4 or IPv6. Only traffic directed to an affected system can be used to exploit these vulnerabilities. The vulnerabilities are due to a buffer overflow condition in the SNMP subsystem of the affected software. The vulnerabilities affect all versions of SNMP - Versions 1, 2c, and 3. To exploit these vulnerabilities via SNMP Version 2c or earlier, the attacker must know the SNMP read-only community string for the affected system. To exploit these vulnerabilities via SNMP Version 3, the attacker must have user credentials for the affected system. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code and obtain full control of the affected system or cause the affected system to reload. Customers are advised to apply the workaround as contained in the Workarounds section below. Fixed software information is available via the Cisco IOS Software Checker. All devices that have enabled SNMP and have not explicitly excluded the affected MIBs or OIDs should be considered vulnerable. There are workarounds that address these vulnerabilities.
Frequently Asked SecOps Questions (CVE-2017-6738)
FAQQ1. How critical is CVE-2017-6738 and is it actively exploited in the wild?
CVE-2017-6738 is rated CVSS 8.8 (HIGH) with a 30-day EPSS exploitation probability of 10.8%. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, requiring immediate emergency remediation.
Q2. Which vendors and products are affected by CVE-2017-6738?
Primary impacted vendors include cisco across ios, ios xe. Scope summary: All versions of Cisco IOS and IOS XE Software where SNMP is enabled and affected MIBs/OIDs are not explicitly excluded
Q3. What temporary mitigations or workarounds exist for CVE-2017-6738 before patching?
[Mitigation] Apply official software updates via Cisco IOS Software Checker, or implement SNMPv3 hardening and MIB filtering workarounds Follow the CLI remediation commands and interactive SecOps checklist on this page to restrict exposure prior to your maintenance window.
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