CVE-2017-12238
MediumExploitedPublic exploitA vulnerability in the Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) code of Cisco IOS 15.0 through 15.4 for Cisco Catalyst 6800 Series Switches could allow an unauthenticated, adjacent attacker to cause a C6800-16P10G or C6800-16P10G-XL type line card to crash, resulting in a denial of…
Published Sep 28, 2017 · Updated Apr 21, 2026
Key Facts
Patch immediately- CVE-2017-12238 is a medium-severity vulnerability (CVSS 6.5 v3.1) affecting IOS (Cisco).
- It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Mar 3, 2022. Public exploit code is available.
- EPSS estimates a 2.0% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- Fixed versions are available, including IOS 15.4.
- Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.
CVSS v3.1
6.5
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)
2.0%
Higher than 80.5% of all scored CVEs
Exploited in the wild
Yes
4 catalog listings
Public exploit code
Available
Proof-of-concept or weaponized module
Get the full CVE-2017-12238 brief as a PDF
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Description
A vulnerability in the Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) code of Cisco IOS 15.0 through 15.4 for Cisco Catalyst 6800 Series Switches could allow an unauthenticated, adjacent attacker to cause a C6800-16P10G or C6800-16P10G-XL type line card to crash, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition. The vulnerability is due to a memory management issue in the affected software. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by creating a large number of VPLS-generated MAC entries in the MAC address table of an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause a C6800-16P10G or C6800-16P10G-XL type line card to crash, resulting in a DoS condition. This vulnerability affects Cisco Catalyst 6800 Series Switches that are running a vulnerable release of Cisco IOS Software and have a Cisco C6800-16P10G or C6800-16P10G-XL line card in use with Supervisor Engine 6T. To be vulnerable, the device must also be configured with VPLS and the C6800-16P10G or C6800-16P10G-XL line card needs to be the core-facing MPLS interfaces. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCva61927.
Known-Exploited Catalog Listings
| Catalog | Added | Remediation due | Ransomware use |
|---|---|---|---|
| CISA KEV | Mar 3, 2022 | Mar 24, 2022 | Not reported |
| Industry KEV feed | Mar 3, 2022 | Mar 24, 2022 | Not reported |
| CIRCL KEV | Mar 3, 2022 | Mar 24, 2022 | Not reported |
| ENISA EUVD | Mar 3, 2022 | n/a | Not reported |
Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Affected Products
2 affected entries in total| Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| IOSCisco | >= Cisco IOS | 15.4 |
Patched Releases
IOS
15.4
Timeline
Publicly disclosed
Sep 28, 2017
Added to CISA KEV
Mar 3, 2022
Added to Industry KEV feed
Mar 3, 2022
Added to CIRCL KEV
Mar 3, 2022
Added to ENISA EUVD
Mar 3, 2022
Last updated
Apr 21, 2026
Weakness Type
- CWE-399
References
FAQ
Common Questions.
A vulnerability in the Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) code of Cisco IOS 15.0 through 15.4 for Cisco Catalyst 6800 Series Switches could allow an unauthenticated, adjacent attacker to cause a C6800-16P10G or C6800-16P10G-XL type line card to crash, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition.
Affected: IOS (Cisco) versions >= Cisco IOS. The full list is in the CVE brief.
It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Mar 3, 2022.
Yes. It was added on Mar 3, 2022 with a federal remediation due date of Mar 24, 2022.
Public exploit code is available.
Fixed versions are available, including IOS 15.4.
Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.
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