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Evidence dossier
CVE-2018-0171
CVE-2018-0171
gen-56ccdaf9Normalized restatement
A vulnerability in the Smart Install feature of Cisco IOS Software and Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to trigger a reload of an affected device, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition, or to execute arbitrary code on an affected device. The vulnerability is due to improper validation of packet data. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted Smart Install message to an affected device on TCP port 4786. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause a buffer overflow on the affected device, which could have the following impacts: Triggering a reload of the device, Allowing the attacker to execute arbitrary code on the device, Causing an indefinite loop on the affected device that triggers a watchdog crash. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvg76186.
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Published
- Mar 28, 2018
- Updated
- Jan 12, 2026
- Evidence coverage
- 72%
2026-07-18 · v2026.06.15 · percentile 99.9%
Distinct CVSS assessments remain side by side; none are averaged.
Source comparison
Who said what
A vulnerability in the Smart Install feature of Cisco IOS Software and Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to trigger a reload of an affected device, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition, or to execute arbitrary code on an affected device. The vulnerability is due to improper validation of packet data. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted Smart Install message to an affected device on TCP port 4786. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause a buffer overflow on the affected device, which could have the following impacts: Triggering a reload of the device, Allowing the attacker to execute arbitrary code on the device, Causing an indefinite loop on the affected device that triggers a watchdog crash. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvg76186.
Cisco IOS and IOS XE Software Smart Install Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Probability 0.995120000000; percentile 0.999410000000
Applicability
Cited product scope
[{"status": "affected", "version": "Cisco IOS and IOS XE"}]unknowncpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios:15.2\(5\)e:*:*:*:*:*:*:*supportedAssessments
CVSS by origin
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:CCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:HCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:HLimitations and unknowns
- KEV membership is authoritative for the catalog, not proof of exposure in any environment.
- EPSS is a dated model probability and not an individual-environment prediction.
- Affected or fixed status applies only to the exact cited product and version scope; unresolved scope remains unknown.
- NVD-carried upstream facts remain derivative and are not independent corroboration.
- Only NVD metrics validated under the generation-bound calculator are Public Priority eligible; direct CVE record metrics remain display-only.
- NVD CVSS source eligibility is closed: NVD-authored, exact record-source, or registered same-CVE container origin; unmapped sources remain display-only.
- Factor D is unknown in Public Core because no accepted canonical mapping-obligation ledger is present.
- Core replay supports the active and immediately prior generation; retrospective valid-at replay is deferred.