# CVE-2018-0171: Cisco IOS and IOS XE Software Smart Install Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

> CVE-2018-0171: Cisco IOS and IOS XE Software Smart Install Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. CVSS 7.5 (CVSS 3.1), in CISA KEV.

Canonical: https://rewindex.com/cve/CVE-2018-0171
Last updated: 2026-01-12T21:34:43Z

- Published: 2018-03-28 22:00 UTC · Updated: 2026-01-12 21:34 UTC · Assigner: cisco
- CVSS: 7.5 (CVSS 3.1) · Severity: High · Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
- EPSS: 99.5%, 100th percentile (scored 2026-10-25)
- CISA KEV: yes, added 2021-11-03, federal due date 2022-05-03, ransomware use: Unknown
- CWE: CWE-20

## 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.

## CISA required action

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

## Affected vendors and products

- n/a: Cisco IOS and IOS XE

## References

- [CVE record on cve.org](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-0171)
- [NVD entry](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-0171)
- [https://ics-cert.us-cert.gov/advisories/ICSA-18-107-04](https://ics-cert.us-cert.gov/advisories/ICSA-18-107-04)
- [https://ics-cert.us-cert.gov/advisories/ICSA-18-107-05](https://ics-cert.us-cert.gov/advisories/ICSA-18-107-05)
- [https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20180328-smi2](https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20180328-smi2)
- [https://www.darkreading.com/perimeter/attackers-exploit-cisco-switch-issue-as-vendor-warns-of-yet-another-critical-flaw/d/d-id/1331490](https://www.darkreading.com/perimeter/attackers-exploit-cisco-switch-issue-as-vendor-warns-of-yet-another-critical-flaw/d/d-id/1331490)
- [http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/103538](http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/103538)
- [http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1040580](http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1040580)

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_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/)_


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Canonical: https://rewindex.com/cve/CVE-2018-0171 · Markdown: https://rewindex.com/cve/CVE-2018-0171.md · JSON: https://rewindex.com/api/v1/cves/CVE-2018-0171 · Data licensed CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) · Generated 2026-10-26T02:02:11.737Z