{"id":"CVE-2018-0171","url":"https://www.cyber-defence.io/tools/cve/CVE-2018-0171","generatedAt":"2026-10-28T21:56:36.538Z","title":"Cisco IOS and IOS XE Software Smart Install Remote Code Execution Vulnerability","description":"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.","published":"2018-03-28T22:29:01.000Z","lastModified":"2026-06-17T01:30:00.000Z","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","CWE-787"],"affected":["cisco/ios"],"epss":{"score":0.99479,"percentile":0.99943,"date":"2026-10-27","history":[]},"kev":{"listed":true,"dateAdded":"2021-11-03","dueDate":"2022-05-03","knownRansomwareCampaignUse":"Unknown","notes":"Apply updates per vendor instructions.\nhttps://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-0171"},"exploits":{"count":1,"verified":false,"firstPublished":"2018-03-29","source":"Exploit-DB (https://gitlab.com/exploit-database/exploitdb)","entries":[{"edbId":44451,"kind":"exploit","title":"Cisco Smart Install - Crash (PoC)","url":"https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/44451","sourceUrl":"https://gitlab.com/exploit-database/exploitdb/-/blob/main/exploits/hardware/dos/44451.py","file":"exploits/hardware/dos/44451.py","published":"2018-03-29","added":"2018-04-13","updated":"2018-05-03","author":"embedi","type":"dos","platform":"hardware","port":null,"verified":false,"codes":["CVE-2018-0171"],"tags":null,"aliases":null,"applicationUrl":null,"screenshotUrl":null,"referenceUrl":"https://embedi.com/blog/cisco-smart-install-remote-code-execution/"}]},"verdict":{"level":"urgent","text":"Known to be exploited in the wild (CISA KEV, CISA remediation deadline 3 May 2022). Treat as an emergency change: patch or isolate now, then hunt for prior compromise."},"changes":[],"references":[{"url":"http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/103538","tags":["Third Party Advisory","VDB Entry"],"source":"psirt@cisco.com"},{"url":"http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1040580","tags":["Third Party Advisory","VDB Entry"],"source":"psirt@cisco.com"},{"url":"https://ics-cert.us-cert.gov/advisories/ICSA-18-107-04","tags":["Third Party Advisory","US Government Resource"],"source":"psirt@cisco.com"},{"url":"https://ics-cert.us-cert.gov/advisories/ICSA-18-107-05","tags":["Third Party Advisory","US Government Resource"],"source":"psirt@cisco.com"},{"url":"https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20180328-smi2","tags":["Vendor Advisory"],"source":"psirt@cisco.com"},{"url":"https://www.darkreading.com/perimeter/attackers-exploit-cisco-switch-issue-as-vendor-warns-of-yet-another-critical-flaw/d/d-id/1331490","tags":["Press/Media Coverage"],"source":"psirt@cisco.com"},{"url":"http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/103538","tags":["Third Party Advisory","VDB Entry"],"source":"af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"},{"url":"http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1040580","tags":["Third Party Advisory","VDB Entry"],"source":"af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"},{"url":"https://ics-cert.us-cert.gov/advisories/ICSA-18-107-04","tags":["Third Party Advisory","US Government Resource"],"source":"af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"},{"url":"https://ics-cert.us-cert.gov/advisories/ICSA-18-107-05","tags":["Third Party Advisory","US Government Resource"],"source":"af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"},{"url":"https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20180328-smi2","tags":["Vendor Advisory"],"source":"af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"},{"url":"https://www.darkreading.com/perimeter/attackers-exploit-cisco-switch-issue-as-vendor-warns-of-yet-another-critical-flaw/d/d-id/1331490","tags":["Press/Media Coverage"],"source":"af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"},{"url":"https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2018-0171","tags":["US Government Resource"],"source":"134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0"}],"sources":{"nvd":"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-0171","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."}