CVE-2017-3881: Cisco IOS and IOS XE Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities

Name

Cisco IOS and IOS XE Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Vendor

Cisco

Product

IOS and IOS XE

Added to the catalog

2022-03-25

Due date for US federal agencies

2022-04-15

Weaknesses

CWE-20

Catalog version

2026.10.30

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.

Required action (CISA)

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Ransomware use: CISA does not mark known use of this vulnerability in ransomware campaigns.

Links in CISA's notes

• https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-3881

Read on 2026-11-02T23:39:54.475Z under licence cisa-kev-cc0@b0067899 from https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/feeds/known_exploited_vulnerabilities.json

NVD analysis

Status

Analyzed

Published

2017-03-17T22:59:00.640

Last modified

2026-06-17T01:19:06.913

Weaknesses

CWE-20

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.

References

• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/96960 (Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/97391 (Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038059 (Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
• https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20170317-cmp (Vendor Advisory)
• https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41872/ (Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
• https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41874/ (Broken Link)
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/96960 (Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/97391 (Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038059 (Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
• https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20170317-cmp (Vendor Advisory)
• https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41872/ (Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
• https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41874/ (Broken Link)
• https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2017-3881 (US Government Resource)

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.

Read on 2026-11-02T23:41:35.381Z under licence nvd-api-terms-of-use@ff2a5288 from https://services.nvd.nist.gov/rest/json/cves/2.0?cveId=CVE-2017-3881

CVE record

Assigner

cisco

State

PUBLISHED

Published

2017-03-17T22:00:00.000Z

Updated

2026-01-12T20:45:44.634Z

Problem types

Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

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.

References

• 41872
• 41874
• 97391
• 96960
• https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20170317-cmp
• 1038059

Read on 2026-11-03T00:35:09.357Z under licence cve-terms-of-use@81bfa2f3 from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/main/cves/2017/3xxx/CVE-2017-3881.json

Defensive techniques (MITRE D3FEND)

D3FEND maps these defensive techniques to the weakness (CWE) that NVD lists for this CVE, through the digital artifacts the weakness affects. D3FEND does not say they stop this vulnerability.

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