CVE-2018-0171

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.

• CWE-20
• CWE-787

• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/103538Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1040580Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
• https://ics-cert.us-cert.gov/advisories/ICSA-18-107-04Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource
• https://ics-cert.us-cert.gov/advisories/ICSA-18-107-05Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource
• https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20180328-smi2Vendor Advisory
• https://www.darkreading.com/perimeter/attackers-exploit-cisco-switch-issue-as-vendor-warns-of-yet-another-critical-flaw/d/d-id/1331490Press/Media Coverage
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/103538Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1040580Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
• https://ics-cert.us-cert.gov/advisories/ICSA-18-107-04Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource
• https://ics-cert.us-cert.gov/advisories/ICSA-18-107-05Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource
• https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20180328-smi2Vendor Advisory
• https://www.darkreading.com/perimeter/attackers-exploit-cisco-switch-issue-as-vendor-warns-of-yet-another-critical-flaw/d/d-id/1331490Press/Media Coverage
• https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2018-0171US Government Resource

Published

Mar 28, 2018

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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