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

> CVE-2017-3881: Cisco IOS and IOS XE Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. CVSS 9.8 (CVSS 3.1), in CISA KEV.

Canonical: https://rewindex.com/cve/CVE-2017-3881
Last updated: 2026-01-12T20:45:44Z

- Published: 2017-03-17 22:00 UTC · Updated: 2026-01-12 20:45 UTC · Assigner: cisco
- CVSS: 9.8 (CVSS 3.1) · Severity: Critical · Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS: 98.9%, 100th percentile (scored 2026-10-25)
- CISA KEV: yes, added 2022-03-25, federal due date 2022-04-15, ransomware use: Unknown

## 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.

## CISA required action

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

## Affected vendors and products

- n/a: Cisco IOS and IOS XE Software

## References

- [CVE record on cve.org](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-3881)
- [NVD entry](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-3881)
- [https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20170317-cmp](https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20170317-cmp)
- [https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41872/](https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41872/)
- [https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41874/](https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41874/)
- [http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/96960](http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/96960)
- [http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/97391](http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/97391)
- [http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038059](http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038059)

---

_Sources: CVE records from the CVE Program (cve.org). CVE® is a registered trademark of The MITRE Corporation. (https://www.cve.org/) This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. (https://nvd.nist.gov/) Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog from CISA. (https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog) EPSS scores from FIRST (Exploit Prediction Scoring System). (https://www.first.org/epss/)_


---
Canonical: https://rewindex.com/cve/CVE-2017-3881 · Markdown: https://rewindex.com/cve/CVE-2017-3881.md · JSON: https://rewindex.com/api/v1/cves/CVE-2017-3881 · Data licensed CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) · Generated 2026-10-26T02:45:44.006Z