CVE-2017-3881

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.

• CWE-20
• CWE-20

• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/96960Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/97391Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038059Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
• https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20170317-cmpVendor 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/96960Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/97391Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038059Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
• https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20170317-cmpVendor 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-2017-3881US Government Resource

Published

Mar 17, 2017

Last Modified

Jun 17, 2026

Status

Analyzed

• How Strix found a critical auth bypass in etcdStrix autonomously discovered a critical authentication bypass in etcd, later designated CVE-2026-33413.
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