CVE-2018-0179
Cisco IOS Software Denial-of-Service Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2018-0179 is a denial-of-service vulnerability in Cisco IOS Software. A vulnerability in the Login Enhancements (Login Block) feature of Cisco IOS Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to trigger a reload of an affected system, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition. Successful exploitation could result in denial of service through device reloads on affected devices. CISA has added CVE-2018-0179 to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, confirming active exploitation in the wild. The EPSS score of 1.5% (81.0st percentile) indicates a measurable likelihood of exploitation activity.
KEV Information
CVSS Score
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:HOpen in CalculatorCWEs
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Version |
|---|---|---|
| cisco | ios | 15.3\(00.00.19\)sy; 15.4\(01\)ia001.100; 15.6\(01.22\)t; 15.4\(03\)m4.1; 15.4\(2\)cg; 15.4\(2\)t; 15.4\(3\)m |
Multiple CVSS Assessments
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H
References
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/103556(Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20180328-slogin(Vendor Advisory)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2018-0179(US Government Resource)
Weakness Type
CWE-399: Resource Management Errors
CWE-399 (Resource Management Errors) is a weakness classification that describes the underlying vulnerability mechanism exploited in CVE-2018-0179. In this case, the weakness relates to how Cisco IOS Software handles input processing, leading to exploitable conditions.
Learn more: CWE-399 — Resource Management Errors
Impact Analysis
CVE-2018-0179 threatens the availability of Cisco IOS Software, as exploitation can cause device reloads, resulting in service disruption. With a CVSS score of 5.9 (MEDIUM) and a network-based attack vector requiring no authentication, the barrier to exploitation is moderate. In enterprise environments, repeated exploitation could cause sustained network outages affecting business operations, communications, and service availability. Network infrastructure devices are high-value targets, and their unavailability can have cascading effects across the organization.
Exploit Maturity
CVE-2018-0179 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, confirming that this vulnerability has been exploited in real-world attacks. The EPSS score of 1.5% (81.0st percentile) indicates a measurable probability of exploitation. Organizations should treat this vulnerability as an active and ongoing threat requiring immediate remediation.
Remediation
- Apply vendor updates immediately as required by CISA KEV: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
- If immediate patching is not possible, implement interim mitigations such as restricting access to the affected Login Enhancements feature to trusted networks only using access control lists.
- Monitor affected devices for signs of exploitation, including unexpected reloads, unusual network traffic, and anomalous process behavior.
- Ensure network monitoring and alerting is configured to detect denial-of-service conditions affecting the Cisco IOS Software infrastructure.
- Maintain up-to-date device configurations and backups to enable rapid recovery if exploitation causes device reloads.
Technical Details
CVE-2018-0179 is a denial-of-service vulnerability in the Login Enhancements (Login Block) feature of Cisco IOS Software. The vulnerability allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to cause the device to reload by sending specially crafted packets. The CVSS v3.1 score of 5.9 reflects high attack complexity, no required privileges, and high impact on availability. The attack vector is network, meaning an attacker must have network connectivity to the affected device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2018-0179 being actively exploited?
Yes. CVE-2018-0179 is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, confirming active exploitation. The EPSS score of 1.5% (81.0st percentile) further indicates a notable likelihood of ongoing exploitation.
What products are affected by CVE-2018-0179?
CVE-2018-0179 affects Cisco IOS Software. Specifically, affected products include Cisco Ios.
How do I fix CVE-2018-0179?
Apply updates per vendor instructions. If immediate patching is not feasible, apply interim mitigations such as access control restrictions and enhanced monitoring to detect exploitation attempts.
How severe is CVE-2018-0179?
CVE-2018-0179 has a CVSS score of 5.9 (MEDIUM). This is a medium-severity denial-of-service vulnerability that can disrupt network operations. While it does not enable code execution, the availability impact on critical network infrastructure makes timely remediation essential.
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