CVE-2017-12238 Cisco Catalyst 6800 Series Switches: software flaw
In plain words: A mistake in the software that attackers have found a way to abuse. Depends on the product — see the description and the vendor advisory.
Confirmed exploited by CISA on · US federal patch deadline Mar 24, 2022
What to do
- Install Cisco's security update for Catalyst 6800 Series Switches. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships.
- Patch edge devices first — attackers often start scanning for them within hours of a fix.
- Never expose the device's admin page to the internet.
- After patching a device that was exposed, follow the vendor's compromise checks, end active sessions and change passwords.
Who is affected
Work IT. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.
What's at risk: They face the internet and guard the whole network, so a flaw here can hand attackers a way in — and these devices usually run no antivirus, so break-ins go unnoticed.
The details
- Official name
- Cisco Catalyst 6800 Series Switches VPLS Denial-of-Service Vulnerability
- Product
- Cisco Catalyst 6800 Series Switches
- CISA description
- A vulnerability in the Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) code of Cisco IOS for Cisco Catalyst 6800 Series Switches could allow an unauthenticated, adjacent attacker to cause a denial of service.
- Type of flaw
- Software flaw (CWE-399)
- Confirmed exploited
- Mar 3, 2022
- US federal patch deadline
- Mar 24, 2022
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Answering about CVE-2017-12238 ·
Questions about CVE-2017-12238
Is CVE-2017-12238 being exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2017-12238 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Mar 3, 2022, which means there is reliable evidence of real-world attacks.
How do I fix CVE-2017-12238?
Install Cisco's security update for Catalyst 6800 Series Switches. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships. Patch edge devices first — attackers often start scanning for them within hours of a fix.
Am I affected by CVE-2017-12238?
Only if you use Cisco Catalyst 6800 Series Switches. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.