CVE-2018-0171: Cisco IOS and IOS XE Software Smart Install Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Advisory generated from the CVE record, CISA, Exploit Observer and VEDAS: what it is, whether it is exploited, who is affected, and how to fix and detect it.
Generated by VEDAS. Scores as of 2026-11-01 19:19 UTC. Rebuilt every few hours from cve-scores, CISA KEV and vedas-signatures. How this works and its limits.
What it is
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.
Description quoted from the CVE record (assigned by cisco, published 2018-03-28).
Weakness: CWE-20
How it can be exploited
Exploitable over the network with low attack complexity needing no privileges and no user interaction. Impact: confidentiality none, integrity none, availability high. CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
CISA assessment (SSVC): CISA assesses exploitation as active. Automatable: yes. Technical impact: total.
- On CISA KEV since
- 2021-11-03
- US federal deadline
- 2022-05-03
- Ransomware use
- Not known
Public exploit evidence (Exploit Observer)
Also known as: BDU:2018-00499, CNNVD-201803-1022, CNVD-2018-06774, EDB-44451, EUVD-2018-0994, GHSA-4w6g-87mh-x63x
VEDAS cluster: VEDAS:BENEVOLENTBUMBLEBEE
Exploit Observer links 2 pieces of public exploit code or detection modules that name this CVE or one of its aliases.
Exploit code and modules (2)
Code that names this CVE. A repository can be a working exploit, a scanner, a fake or malware; read it before running anything.
- Exploit-DB: https://www.exploit-db.com/raw/44451
- Nuclei template: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/main/javascript/cves/2018/CVE-2018-0171.yaml
Research and write-ups (3)
- Research or write-up: https://averlo.site/cisco-confirms-salt-typhoon-exploited-cve-2018-0171-to-target-u-s-telecom-networks
- Research or write-up: https://securityaffairs.co/wordpress/71181/hacking/cve-2018-0171-russia-iran-attacks.html
- Research or write-up: https://www.rapid7.com/db/vulnerabilities/cisco-xe-cve-2018-0171
Vulnerability databases and vendor advisories (7)
Catalogue entries, not exploit evidence.
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/enisa/EUVD-2018-0994
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-4w6g-87mh-x63x
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-0171
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2018-0171
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://www.cnnvd.org.cn/home/globalSearch?keyword=CNNVD-201803-1022
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://www.cnvd.org.cn/flaw/show/CNVD-2018-06774
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://www.tenable.com/cve/CVE-2018-0171
241 more references returned by Exploit Observer did not name this CVE or an alias, so they are left out.
VEDAS data as of 2026-11-01T17:12 UTC; fetched 2026-11-02.
Live scores
- EPSS
- 0.995
very likely to be attacked soon - VEDAS
- 0.986
strong exploit evidence - On CISA KEV
- Yes, since 2021-11-03
- Detection rule
- None yet
Thin horizontal line: the “likely” (EPSS 0.10) or “strong” (VEDAS 0.90) threshold. Shaded “no data” areas are periods when cve-scores did not publish.
Who is affected
| Product | Affected | Not affected |
|---|---|---|
| Cisco IOS and IOS XE | version Cisco IOS and IOS XE | Not stated |
Version ranges exactly as the CVE record states them. “Before X” means X is the first fixed version.
Exploit Observer also maps it to: cisco ios, cisco_systems,_inc. cisco_ios.
How to fix it
CISA required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Vendor guidance:
How to detect it
There is no open VEDAS detection rule for this bug yet. It is listed on the detection gaps page if CISA has confirmed attacks.
Advisories on this CVE
- Joint advisory AA26-194A: FSB Center 16 targeting routers via SNMP and Cisco Smart Install (13 Jul 2026)
References
Government sources
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2018-0171 (government-resource)
Other references
- https://ics-cert.us-cert.gov/advisories/ICSA-18-107-04 (x_refsource_MISC)
- 1040580 (vdb-entry, x_refsource_SECTRACK)
- https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20180328-smi2 (x_refsource_CONFIRM)
- https://www.darkreading.com/perimeter/attackers-exploit-cisco-switch-issue-as-vendor-warns-of-yet-another-critical-flaw/d/d-id/1331490 (x_refsource_MISC)
- https://ics-cert.us-cert.gov/advisories/ICSA-18-107-05 (x_refsource_MISC)
- 103538 (vdb-entry, x_refsource_BID)
Other databases
Where this comes from
This advisory is generated automatically by VEDAS from: CVE.org record, CISA KEV, cve-scores (EPSS and VEDAS), Exploit Observer. Text in quotes is reproduced from the source; everything else is a fixed template filled with source fields. Nothing here is written by a language model. Check the vendor advisory before acting, and read how VEDAS and Exploit Observer work, and their limits.