Cisco IOS and IOS XE Software Internet Key Exchange Denial-of-Service Vulnerability

Exploited · KEV 2022-03-03CVE-2017-12237CWE-399

Exploited since 2022-03-03. No WAF vendor names it yet.

Edge rules

0/8

Our test

No exploit yet

CVSS

7.5

EPSS

7.1% Top 6%

Posts, 14d

Published

2017-09-28

A vulnerability in the Internet Key Exchange Version 2 (IKEv2) module of Cisco IOS 15.0 through 15.6 and Cisco IOS XE 3.5 through 16.5 could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause high CPU utilization, traceback messages, or a reload of an affected device that leads to a denial of service (DoS) condition. The vulnerability is due to how an affected device processes certain IKEv2 packets. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending specific IKEv2 packets to an affected device to be processed. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause high CPU utilization, traceback messages, or a reload of the affected device that leads to a DoS condition. This vulnerability affects Cisco devices that have the Internet Security Association and Key Management Protocol (ISAKMP) enabled. Although only IKEv2 packets can be used to trigger this vulnerability, devices that are running Cisco IOS Software or Cisco IOS XE Software are vulnerable when ISAKMP is enabled. A device does not need to be configured with any IKEv2-specific features to be vulnerable. Many features use IKEv2, including different types of VPNs such as the following: LAN-to-LAN VPN; Remote-access VPN, excluding SSL VPN; Dynamic Multipoint VPN (DMVPN); and FlexVPN. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvc41277.

Edge coverage

Claimed by vendors

CloudflareBefore feed historyOlder than its feed AWSBefore feed historyOlder than its feed Microsoft AzureNo public claimNot named Google CloudBefore feed historyOlder than its feed FastlyBefore feed historyOlder than its feed F5Before feed historyOlder than its feed AkamaiNo public sourceNo public changelog OWASP CRSBefore feed historyOlder than its feed

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Ask about CVE-2017-12237: who's covered, what to patch first, how vendors compare. I cite sources and won't help with attacks.

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Severity, decoded

CVSS 3.1

7.5High

High · 7.5 / 10

Exploitable over the network, with no privileges and no user interaction, leading to full loss of availability.

Over the internetNo login neededNo user actionWorks reliablySerious impact

How the score is built8 metrics

Attack vectorAn attacker can reach it over the internet; no access to your network needed.
Network
Attack complexityNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Low
Privileges requiredNo account or login is needed.
None
User interactionNo one has to click or open anything; the attack works on its own.
None
ScopeThe damage stays within the vulnerable component.
Unchanged
Confidentiality impactNo data is exposed.
None
Integrity impactData cannot be changed by the attacker.
None
Availability impactAn attacker can take the component down completely or keep it from serving anyone.
High

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CISA's assessmentSSVC, from the CVE record

ExploitationActive

Attackers are exploiting this in the wild.

AutomatableYes

Attackers can script the attack end to end and hit many targets at once.

Technical impactPartial

A successful attack gives limited control over the affected software or limited access to its data.

Public exploits

None found

0 Metasploit0 Exploit-DB0 Scanner template0 GitHub PoCs

No exploit in Exploit-DB or Metasploit, and no scanner template. That lowers, but doesn't remove, the chance of mass exploitation.

Timeline

2017-09-28
CVE published
CVE List
2022-03-03
Added to CISA KEV
Confirmed exploitation in the wild