CVE-2018-0151
CriticalExploitedPublic exploitA vulnerability in the quality of service (QoS) subsystem of Cisco IOS Software and Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition or execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
Published Mar 28, 2018 · Updated Jan 13, 2026
Key Facts
Patch immediately- CVE-2018-0151 is a critical-severity vulnerability (CVSS 9.8 v3.1) affecting IOS Xe (Cisco), Cisco IOS and IOS XE.
- 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 14% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- No fixed version is listed yet; check the vendor advisory for mitigations.
- Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.
CVSS v3.1
9.8
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)
14%
Higher than 96.5% of all scored CVEs
Exploited in the wild
Yes
4 catalog listings
Public exploit code
Available
Proof-of-concept or weaponized module
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Description
A vulnerability in the quality of service (QoS) subsystem of Cisco IOS Software and Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition or execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The vulnerability is due to incorrect bounds checking of certain values in packets that are destined for UDP port 18999 of an affected device. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending malicious packets to an affected device. When the packets are processed, an exploitable buffer overflow condition may occur. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code on the affected device with elevated privileges. The attacker could also leverage this vulnerability to cause the device to reload, causing a temporary DoS condition while the device is reloading. The malicious packets must be destined to and processed by an affected device. Traffic transiting a device will not trigger the vulnerability. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvf73881.
Known-Exploited Catalog Listings
| Catalog | Added | Remediation due | Ransomware use |
|---|---|---|---|
| CISA KEV | Mar 3, 2022 | Mar 17, 2022 | Not reported |
| Industry KEV feed | Mar 3, 2022 | Mar 17, 2022 | Not reported |
| CIRCL KEV | Mar 3, 2022 | Mar 17, 2022 | Not reported |
| ENISA EUVD | Mar 3, 2022 | n/a | Not reported |
Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Affected Products
3 affected entries in total| Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| IOS XeCisco | 16.5.1 | n/a |
| Cisco IOS and IOS XE | >= Cisco IOS and IOS XE | n/a |
Timeline
Publicly disclosed
Mar 28, 2018
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
Jan 13, 2026
Weakness Type
- CWE-119 Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer
References
- advisoryhttps://ics-cert.us-cert.gov/advisories/ICSA-18-107-03
- advisoryhttps://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20180328-qos
- advisory103540
- advisory1040582
- exploitVulnCheck exploitation report
FAQ
Common Questions.
A vulnerability in the quality of service (QoS) subsystem of Cisco IOS Software and Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition or execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
Affected: IOS Xe (Cisco) versions 16.5.1; Cisco IOS and IOS XE versions >= Cisco IOS and IOS XE. 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 17, 2022.
Public exploit code is available.
No fixed version is listed yet; check the vendor advisory for mitigations.
Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.
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