Patchfirst
CVE-2017-6736 KEVPublic exploit High · 8.8 EPSS 70.4%

Cisco IOS and IOS XE Software SNMP Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Cisco · IOS and IOS XE Software

Summary

The Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) subsystem of Cisco IOS and IOS XE Software contains a buffer overflow flaw that affects SNMP Versions 1, 2c, and 3. An attacker with network access to an affected system, reachable over IPv4 or IPv6 via a crafted SNMP packet, could execute arbitrary code with full control of the device or cause it to reload, but must first hold valid credentials: the SNMP read-only community string for Versions 2c and earlier, or user credentials for Version 3.

Official description · NVD

The Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) subsystem of Cisco IOS and IOS XE Software contains multiple vulnerabilities that could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to remotely execute code on an affected system or cause an affected system to reload. An attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities by sending a crafted SNMP packet to an affected system via IPv4 or IPv6. Only traffic directed to an affected system can be used to exploit these vulnerabilities. The vulnerabilities are due to a buffer overflow condition in the SNMP subsystem of the affected software. The vulnerabilities affect all versions of SNMP - Versions 1, 2c, and 3. To exploit these vulnerabilities via SNMP Version 2c or earlier, the attacker must know the SNMP read-only community string for the affected system. To exploit these vulnerabilities via SNMP Version 3, the attacker must have user credentials for the affected system. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code and obtain full control of the affected system or cause the affected system to reload. Customers are advised to apply the workaround as contained in the Workarounds section below. Fixed software information is available via the Cisco IOS Software Checker. All devices that have enabled SNMP and have not explicitly excluded the affected MIBs or OIDs should be considered vulnerable. There are workarounds that address these vulnerabilities.

Breakdown
72.9 / 100
Exploited
Yes, in CISA KEV
Reports
1
Tactics
6/15

How an attack unfolds

Based on mappings. Select a step to see the evidence.
  1. How attackers get in

  2. What they do

First seen exploited 21 months after disclosure. Public exploit code (Exploit-DB) appeared 6 months after disclosure.

  1. Disclosedday 0
  2. Public exploit codeExploit-DB+6 mo
  3. First seen exploitedVulnCheck KEV evidenceNamed in a threat reportblog.talosintelligence.com+21 mo
  4. Added to CISA KEVEU database agrees+5 yrs

CISA KEV listing is when exploitation was confirmed, not necessarily the first attack.

techniques

3 , grouped by in kill-chain order, 3 cited passages 3

Initial AccessTA0001

Valid Accounts T1078 Medium also Persistence, Privilege Escalation, Stealth
AI mapping from the description · how it is exploited

Requires valid SNMP community string or credentials

the attacker must know the SNMP read-only community string for the affected system
From the official description (NVD) Original (opens in a new tab) ↗

ExecutionTA0002

Command and Scripting Interpreter T1059 Medium
AI mapping from the description · primary impact

Buffer overflow yields arbitrary code execution

could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code and obtain full control
From the official description (NVD) Original (opens in a new tab) ↗

ImpactTA0040

Application or System Exploitation T1499.004 Medium
AI mapping from the description · primary impact

Crafted packet causes device reload, denial of service

or cause the affected system to reload
From the official description (NVD) Original (opens in a new tab) ↗

Detection

0 rules for this CVE · 154 general rules for its techniques

Rules for this CVE

0 that reference CVE-2017-6736 directly.

CVE-specific rules are not available in this build. Search SigmaHQ ↗

Sigma rules © SigmaHQ, Detection Rule License 1.1; linked, not reproduced.

What security researchers reported

Named in 1 threat report
1 reportCisco TalosApr 2019

Reports are matched by finding the exact id CVE-2017-6736 in their text; nobody has reviewed the match. One passage is shown per report, at most 320 characters, linked to the original.

Cisco Talos17 Apr 2019

DNS Hijacking Abuses Trust In Core Internet Service

…the Shellshock CVEs)SID: 31975 - 31978, 31985, 32038, 32039, 32041 - 32043, 32069, 32335, 32336CVE-2017-3881: RCE for Cisco switchesSID: 41909 - 41910CVE-2017-6736: Remote Code Exploit (RCE) for Cisco integrated Service Router 2811SID: 43424 - 43432CVE-2017-12617: RCE affecting Apache web servers running TomcatSID:

Original (opens in a new tab) ↗

Also mentioned in 50 community threat pulses (AlienVault OTX)

Weaker evidence

Pulses are indicator collections that anyone can publish. A mention is not confirmation of exploitation.

References

7 links, grouped by NVD tag
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