CVE-2017-3850 : What You Need to Know

A weakness in the Autonomic Networking Infrastructure (ANI) function of Cisco IOS and IOS XE could allow an unauthorized remote attacker to induce a denial of service situation.

Understanding CVE-2017-3850

What is CVE-2017-3850?

The vulnerability in Cisco IOS and IOS XE software versions allows attackers to exploit inadequate validation of specific manipulated packets, potentially leading to a denial of service.

The Impact of CVE-2017-3850

The vulnerability could permit an unauthorized remote attacker to force a compromised device to restart, causing a denial of service situation.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-3850

Vulnerability Description

The weakness arises due to inadequate validation of specific manipulated packets in the Autonomic Networking Infrastructure (ANI) function of Cisco IOS and IOS XE software versions.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Cisco IOS and IOS XE
Versions Affected: Cisco IOS Software 15.4 through 15.6, and Cisco IOS XE Software 3.7 through 3.18, and 16

Exploitation Mechanism

Attacker sends an altered IPv6 packet to a device running a vulnerable Cisco IOS or IOS XE version supporting the ANI function
Conditions for exploitation: device must support ANI and have an accessible IPv6 interface

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the necessary patches provided by Cisco to address the vulnerability
Implement network security best practices to minimize the risk of exploitation

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch Cisco IOS and IOS XE software to mitigate known vulnerabilities
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity that could indicate an attempted exploit

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from Cisco and promptly apply recommended patches to secure your network