CVE-2017-6741 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Cisco IOS and IOS XE versions 12.0 through 12.4 and 15.0 through 15.6, as well as IOS XE versions 2.2 through 3.17, contain vulnerabilities in their SNMP subsystem that could allow remote code execution or system reload.

Understanding CVE-2017-6741

Cisco devices running affected versions of IOS and IOS XE are at risk of exploitation through SNMP vulnerabilities.

What is CVE-2017-6741?

The vulnerabilities in the SNMP subsystem of Cisco IOS and IOS XE versions could be exploited by a remote attacker with proper authentication to execute code or cause system reload by sending a crafted SNMP packet.

The Impact of CVE-2017-6741

Remote code execution or system reload by an attacker with proper authentication
Vulnerable versions: Cisco IOS 12.0-12.4, 15.0-15.6, and IOS XE 2.2-3.17

Technical Details of CVE-2017-6741

Cisco devices running affected versions of IOS and IOS XE are susceptible to exploitation through SNMP vulnerabilities.

Vulnerability Description

Buffer overflow in the SNMP subsystem
Affects all SNMP versions: 1, 2c, and 3

Affected Systems and Versions

Products: Cisco IOS and IOS XE
Versions: Cisco IOS 12.0-12.4, 15.0-15.6, and IOS XE 2.2-3.17

Exploitation Mechanism

Attacker sends a carefully crafted SNMP packet to the affected system
Exploitable via IPv4 or IPv6
Requires proper authentication

Mitigation and Prevention

Cisco provides recommendations to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2017-6741.

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable SNMP if not required
Implement access control lists to restrict SNMP traffic
Apply the latest security updates from Cisco

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and update SNMP configurations
Conduct security assessments to identify vulnerabilities

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by Cisco to address the SNMP vulnerabilities