{"id":"CVE-2017-3881","url":"https://www.cyber-defence.io/tools/cve/CVE-2017-3881","generatedAt":"2026-10-28T20:10:32.085Z","title":"Cisco IOS and IOS XE Remote Code Execution Vulnerability","description":"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.","published":"2017-03-17T22:59:01.000Z","lastModified":"2026-06-17T01:19:07.000Z","status":"Analyzed","sourceIdentifier":"psirt@cisco.com","cvss":{"version":"3.1","score":9.8,"severity":"CRITICAL","vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"},"cwe":["CWE-20"],"affected":["cisco/ios","cisco/ios xe"],"epss":{"score":0.9895,"percentile":0.99928,"date":"2026-10-27","history":[]},"kev":{"listed":true,"dateAdded":"2022-03-25","dueDate":"2022-04-15","knownRansomwareCampaignUse":"Unknown","notes":"Apply updates per vendor instructions.\nhttps://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-3881"},"exploits":{"count":2,"verified":false,"firstPublished":"2017-04-12","source":"Exploit-DB (https://gitlab.com/exploit-database/exploitdb)","entries":[{"edbId":42122,"kind":"exploit","title":"Cisco Catalyst 2960 IOS 12.2(55)SE1 - 'ROCEM' Remote Code Execution","url":"https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/42122","sourceUrl":"https://gitlab.com/exploit-database/exploitdb/-/blob/main/exploits/hardware/remote/42122.py","file":"exploits/hardware/remote/42122.py","published":"2017-04-12","added":"2017-06-05","updated":"2017-09-18","author":"Artem Kondratenko","type":"remote","platform":"hardware","port":23,"verified":false,"codes":["CVE-2017-3881"],"tags":"Remote","aliases":null,"applicationUrl":null,"screenshotUrl":null,"referenceUrl":"https://github.com/artkond/cisco-rce/blob/d4f71e17aae2d5d411e47ca213f11a61fa17a3ec/c2960-lanbasek9-m-12.2.55.se1.py"},{"edbId":41872,"kind":"exploit","title":"Cisco Catalyst 2960 IOS 12.2(55)SE11 - 'ROCEM' Remote Code Execution","url":"https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41872","sourceUrl":"https://gitlab.com/exploit-database/exploitdb/-/blob/main/exploits/hardware/remote/41872.py","file":"exploits/hardware/remote/41872.py","published":"2017-04-12","added":"2017-04-12","updated":"2017-04-12","author":"Artem Kondratenko","type":"remote","platform":"hardware","port":23,"verified":false,"codes":["CVE-2017-3881"],"tags":"Remote","aliases":null,"applicationUrl":null,"screenshotUrl":null,"referenceUrl":"https://github.com/artkond/cisco-rce/"}]},"verdict":{"level":"urgent","text":"Known to be exploited in the wild (CISA KEV, CISA remediation deadline 15 April 2022). Treat as an emergency change: patch or isolate now, then hunt for prior compromise."},"changes":[],"references":[{"url":"http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/96960","tags":["Third Party Advisory","VDB Entry"],"source":"psirt@cisco.com"},{"url":"http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/97391","tags":["Third Party Advisory","VDB Entry"],"source":"psirt@cisco.com"},{"url":"http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038059","tags":["Third Party Advisory","VDB Entry"],"source":"psirt@cisco.com"},{"url":"https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20170317-cmp","tags":["Vendor Advisory"],"source":"psirt@cisco.com"},{"url":"https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41872/","tags":["Exploit","Third Party Advisory","VDB Entry"],"source":"psirt@cisco.com"},{"url":"https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41874/","tags":["Broken Link"],"source":"psirt@cisco.com"},{"url":"http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/96960","tags":["Third Party Advisory","VDB Entry"],"source":"af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"},{"url":"http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/97391","tags":["Third Party Advisory","VDB Entry"],"source":"af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"},{"url":"http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038059","tags":["Third Party Advisory","VDB Entry"],"source":"af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"},{"url":"https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20170317-cmp","tags":["Vendor Advisory"],"source":"af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"},{"url":"https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41872/","tags":["Exploit","Third Party Advisory","VDB Entry"],"source":"af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"},{"url":"https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41874/","tags":["Broken Link"],"source":"af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"},{"url":"https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2017-3881","tags":["US Government Resource"],"source":"134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0"}],"sources":{"nvd":"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-3881","epss":"https://www.first.org/epss/","kev":"https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog","exploitdb":"https://www.exploit-db.com/"},"licence":"CC BY 4.0 — link back to the CVE Explorer if you publish the results; upstream data remains subject to its own terms."}