CVE-2017-6742

CVE-2017-6742 is a high-severity vulnerability in Cisco Ios with a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8. It is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, confirming it has been exploited in the wild (added 2023-04-19). The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-119.

Key facts

Description

A vulnerability in the SNMP implementation of could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to cause a reload of the affected system or to remotely execute code. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted SNMP packet to the affected device.  The vulnerability is due to a buffer overflow in the affected code area. The vulnerability affects all versions of SNMP (versions 1, 2c, and 3). The attacker must know the SNMP read only community string (SNMP version 2c or earlier) or the user credentials (SNMPv3). An exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code and obtain full control of the system or to cause a reload of the affected system. Only traffic directed to the affected system can be used to exploit this vulnerability.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2017-6742?
A vulnerability in the SNMP implementation of could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to cause a reload of the affected system or to remotely execute code. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a crafted SNMP packet to the affected device.  The vulnerability is due to a buffer overflow in the affected code area. The vulnerability affects all versions of SNMP (versions 1, 2c, and 3). The attacker must know the SNMP read only community string (SNMP version 2c or earlier) or the user credentials (SNMPv3). An exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code and obtain full control of the system or to cause a reload of the affected system. Only traffic directed to the affected system can be used to exploit this vulnerability.
How severe is CVE-2017-6742?
CVE-2017-6742 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2017-6742 being actively exploited?
Yes. CVE-2017-6742 is on CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added on 2023-04-19, which means active exploitation has been confirmed. It should be prioritised for remediation.
What products are affected by CVE-2017-6742?
CVE-2017-6742 primarily affects Cisco Ios. In total, 2 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2017-6742?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Because this CVE is known to be actively exploited, treat remediation as urgent — CISA KEV typically sets a short remediation deadline.
Does CVE-2017-6742 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?
Yes. CVE-2017-6742 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2017-15796. It is also flagged as exploited in the EUVD (since 2023-04-19).
When was CVE-2017-6742 published?
CVE-2017-6742 was published on 2017-07-17 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (2)

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