# What is CVE-2017-12238?

> CVE-2017-12238 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 6.5) in IOS from Cisco, published on 29 September 2017. It is on the list of flaws known to be exploited, so criminals are already using it. The latest forecast puts its chance of use in the next 30 days at 2.0%. If you run an affected version, patch it first.

Canonical page: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/what-is/cve-2017-12238

## At a glance

- **Verdict:** Fix this now. Attackers are using this flaw today. If you run an affected version, it goes to the top of your list.
- **Precursor Intelligence risk score:** 74 out of 100 (High); action: Emergency patch. Kept up to date as the evidence changes.
- **Severity:** Medium (CVSS 6.5 out of 10)
- **Known to be exploited:** Yes, it is on the government list of flaws known to be exploited
- **Chance of use in the next 30 days:** 2.0% (latest exploit-likelihood forecast)
- **Published:** 29 September 2017
- **Record last updated:** 22 October 2025
- **Main product:** IOS from Cisco
- **Affected products:** 1

## What is CVE-2017-12238? In plain terms

An attacker has to be on the same local network without logging in, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can take it offline.

### The official description

A vulnerability in the Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) code of Cisco IOS 15.0 through 15.4 for Cisco Catalyst 6800 Series Switches could allow an unauthenticated, adjacent attacker to cause a C6800-16P10G or C6800-16P10G-XL type line card to crash, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition. The vulnerability is due to a memory management issue in the affected software. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by creating a large number of VPLS-generated MAC entries in the MAC address table of an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause a C6800-16P10G or C6800-16P10G-XL type line card to crash, resulting in a DoS condition. This vulnerability affects Cisco Catalyst 6800 Series Switches that are running a vulnerable release of Cisco IOS Software and have a Cisco C6800-16P10G or C6800-16P10G-XL line card in use with Supervisor Engine 6T. To be vulnerable, the device must also be configured with VPLS and the C6800-16P10G or C6800-16P10G-XL line card needs to be the core-facing MPLS interfaces. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCva61927.

### What kind of flaw is it?

- Unknown: Unknown
- Unknown: Unknown

### How an attack on it works

- Where an attacker can be: On the same local network
- How hard it is to pull off: Easy: no special conditions
- Login needed first: No login needed
- Does someone have to click: No, nobody has to do anything
- What an attacker gets: Can take it offline

Severity vector: `CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H`

## Is CVE-2017-12238 being exploited? Yes

Attackers are already using it. It is on the government list of flaws known to be exploited, and the latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 2.0%.

Exploit likelihood over the last 7 days: 2.0%, 2.0%, 2.0%, 2.0%, 2.0%, 2.0%, 2.0%.

### Timeline

- 29 September 2017: Published
- 22 October 2025: Record last updated

### How Precursor Intelligence ranks it

CVE-2017-12238 scores **74 out of 100 (High)**, with the action "Emergency patch".

Every published flaw gets a risk score from 0 to 100, kept up to date as the evidence changes. Four things go into the score, from the one that counts most to the ones that count less:

- Evidence it is being exploited: biggest factor
- How severe it is: strong factor
- How widely exposed it is: smaller factor
- Threat activity around it: smaller factor

85 and above is Critical. Anything confirmed as exploited is always marked for an emergency patch, whatever its score. When this flaw matches software you track, it lands in your list with its score and the reasons behind it.

## Who is affected by CVE-2017-12238?

The published record lists 1 product.

- [IOS](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/ios) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Operating system): 15.0 to 15.4

## How do I fix CVE-2017-12238?

1. **Check whether you run it.** Compare your versions with the affected products above. Not sure what you run? Precursor Intelligence can work it out from your public website, or you can pick it from a list.
2. **Apply the vendor’s fix.** Install the update named in the vendor’s advisory. We’ve put the advisory first in the list.
3. **If you can’t patch today.** Follow any mitigation the vendor publishes, and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet until the update is in.
4. **Check it wasn’t used before you patched.** Because criminals are already using this flaw, look for signs of a break-in on affected systems using the vendor’s guidance.

### References

- [tools.cisco.com](https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20170927-vpls) (Vendor advisory)
- [securityfocus.com](http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/101040) (Broken link, Third-party advisory, Vulnerability database)
- [securitytracker.com](http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1039453) (Broken link, Third-party advisory, Vulnerability database)
- [cisa.gov](https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2017-12238)

## Questions

### What is CVE-2017-12238?

CVE-2017-12238 is a medium-severity flaw in IOS from Cisco, published on 29 September 2017. An attacker has to be on the same local network without logging in, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can take it offline.

### How serious is CVE-2017-12238?

It scores 6.5 out of 10 on the CVSS severity scale, which is medium. Our risk score for CVE-2017-12238 is 74 out of 100, which is High. Its action is "Emergency patch". Attackers are using this flaw today. If you run an affected version, it goes to the top of your list.

### Is CVE-2017-12238 being exploited?

Attackers are already using it. It is on the government list of flaws known to be exploited, and the latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 2.0%.

### Which versions does CVE-2017-12238 affect?

For IOS from Cisco: 15.0 to 15.4.

### How do I fix CVE-2017-12238?

Install the update the vendor names in its advisory, linked first under "How do I fix" on this page. If you can't patch today, follow the vendor's mitigation and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet. Because criminals are already using it, also check affected systems for signs of a break-in.

## Does CVE-2017-12238 affect you?

Precursor Intelligence keeps checking for you:

- **Tell us what you run.** Pick your software from a list, or let us work it out from your website.
- **We match it to every flaw.** Over 400,000 published flaws, checked against your list.
- **Ranked by real-world risk.** Every flaw gets a 0 to 100 risk score, kept up to date, led by evidence criminals are using it.
- **Told as soon as we know.** An alert by email, in the app or by webhook to your own tools.

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