CVE-2017-3861 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Cisco IOS and IOS XE EnergyWise Module Vulnerabilities

Understanding CVE-2017-3861

Multiple vulnerabilities in the EnergyWise module of Cisco IOS and IOS XE versions 12.2 and 15.0 through 15.6 could allow unauthorized remote attackers to cause denial of service (DoS) situations.

What is CVE-2017-3861?

Weaknesses in the EnergyWise module of Cisco IOS and IOS XE versions 12.2 and 15.0 through 15.6
Potential to allow unauthorized remote attackers to cause buffer overflow or device restart
Vulnerabilities arise from incorrect interpretation of specially crafted EnergyWise packets
Exploitation through manipulated EnergyWise packets

The Impact of CVE-2017-3861

Unauthorized remote attackers can cause buffer overflow or device restart, leading to DoS
Vulnerabilities can only be triggered by IPv4 packets intended for EnergyWise domain members
IPv6 packets cannot exploit these vulnerabilities

Technical Details of CVE-2017-3861

Vulnerability Description

Improper parsing of crafted EnergyWise packets leads to buffer overflow or device reload
Exploitable by sending crafted EnergyWise packets to affected devices

Affected Systems and Versions

Cisco IOS versions 12.2 and 15.0 through 15.6
Cisco IOS XE versions 3.2 through 3.18

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers send manipulated EnergyWise packets to compromised devices
Successful exploitation can cause buffer overflow or device restart

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-supplied patches and updates
Implement network segmentation to limit exposure
Monitor network traffic for signs of exploitation

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software and firmware
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing

Patching and Updates

Refer to Cisco Security Advisory for specific patch information