CWE
787 119
Advisory Published

cisco-sa-20180328-smi2: Cisco IOS and IOS XE Software Smart Install Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

First published: Wed Mar 28 2018(Updated: )

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: Cisco has released software updates that address this vulnerability. There are no workarounds that address this vulnerability. Smart Install client functionality is enabled by default on switches that are running Cisco IOS Software releases that have not been updated to address Cisco bug ID CSCvd36820. This advisory is available at the following link:https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20180328-smi2 This advisory is part of the March 28, 2018, release of the Cisco IOS and IOS XE Software Security Advisory Bundled Publication, which includes 20 Cisco Security Advisories that describe 22 vulnerabilities. For a complete list of the advisories and links to them, see Cisco Event Response: March 2018 Semiannual Cisco IOS and IOS XE Software Security Advisory Bundled Publication.

Credit: George Nosenko Embedi via GeekPwn

Affected SoftwareAffected VersionHow to fix
Cisco IOS
Cisco IOS XE Software

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Child vulnerabilities

(Contains the following vulnerabilities)

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the severity of cisco-sa-20180328-smi2?

    The severity of cisco-sa-20180328-smi2 is high due to its potential to cause a denial of service or allow arbitrary code execution.

  • How do I fix cisco-sa-20180328-smi2?

    To fix cisco-sa-20180328-smi2, it is recommended to upgrade to a version of Cisco IOS or IOS XE that is not affected by this vulnerability.

  • What types of devices are affected by cisco-sa-20180328-smi2?

    Cisco IOS and Cisco IOS XE software devices that have the Smart Install feature enabled are affected by cisco-sa-20180328-smi2.

  • Can cisco-sa-20180328-smi2 be exploited remotely?

    Yes, cisco-sa-20180328-smi2 can be exploited remotely by an unauthenticated attacker.

  • What is the potential impact of cisco-sa-20180328-smi2?

    The potential impact of cisco-sa-20180328-smi2 includes device reloads causing denial of service and the execution of arbitrary code.

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