# What is CVE-2017-12281? > CVE-2017-12281 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.5) in Aironet 1800 Firmware from Cisco, published on 2 November 2017. It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts its chance of use in the next 30 days at 0.7%. If you run an affected version, plan in the vendor’s fix. Canonical page: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/what-is/cve-2017-12281 ## At a glance - **Verdict:** Plan it in. No sign of exploitation and a low forecast. Patch it in your normal update cycle. - **Precursor Intelligence risk score:** 46 out of 100 (Medium); action: Plan remediation. Kept up to date as the evidence changes. - **Severity:** High (CVSS 7.5 out of 10) - **Known to be exploited:** No, not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today - **Chance of use in the next 30 days:** 0.7% (latest exploit-likelihood forecast) - **Published:** 2 November 2017 - **Record last updated:** 20 April 2025 - **Main product:** Aironet 1800 Firmware from Cisco - **Affected products:** 12 ## What is CVE-2017-12281? 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 read data, change data and take it offline. ### The official description A vulnerability in the implementation of Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol (PEAP) functionality for standalone configurations of Cisco Aironet 1800, 2800, and 3800 Series Access Points could allow an unauthenticated, adjacent attacker to bypass authentication and connect to an affected device. The vulnerability exists because the affected device uses an incorrect default configuration setting of fail open when running in standalone mode. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by attempting to connect to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to bypass authentication and connect to the affected device. This vulnerability affects Cisco Aironet 1800, 2800, and 3800 Series Access Points that are running a vulnerable software release and use WLAN configuration settings that include FlexConnect local switching and central authentication with MAC filtering. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvd46314. ### What kind of flaw is it? - CWE-287: Improper Authentication ### How an attack on it works - Where an attacker can be: On the same local network - How hard it is to pull off: Hard: conditions must line up - Login needed first: No login needed - Does someone have to click: No, nobody has to do anything - What an attacker gets: Can read data, change data and take it offline Severity vector: `CVSS:3.0/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H` ## Is CVE-2017-12281 being exploited? Not that we know of It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 0.7%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching. Exploit likelihood over the last 7 days: 0.7%, 0.7%, 0.7%, 0.7%, 0.7%, 0.7%, 0.7%. ### Timeline - 2 November 2017: Published - 20 April 2025: Record last updated ### How Precursor Intelligence ranks it CVE-2017-12281 scores **46 out of 100 (Medium)**, with the action "Plan remediation". 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-2017-12281? The published record lists 12 products. - [Aironet 1800 Firmware](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_1800_firmware) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Operating system): version not specified - [Aironet 1830e](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_1830e) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Aironet 1830i](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_1830i) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Aironet 1850e](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_1850e) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Aironet 1850i](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_1850i) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Aironet 2800 Firmware](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_2800_firmware) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Operating system): version not specified - [Aironet 2800e](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_2800e) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Aironet 2800i](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_2800i) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Aironet 3800 Firmware](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_3800_firmware) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Operating system): version not specified - [Aironet 3800e](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_3800e) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Aironet 3800i](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_3800i) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified - [Aironet 3800p](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/cisco/aironet_3800p) by [Cisco](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/cisco) (Hardware): version not specified ## How do I fix CVE-2017-12281? 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. **Keep an eye on it.** Track the product and we tell you as soon as we spot this flaw on the list of exploited flaws, or a jump in its exploit likelihood. ### References - [tools.cisco.com](https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20171101-aironet3) (Vendor advisory) - [securityfocus.com](http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/101649) (Third-party advisory, Vulnerability database) - [securitytracker.com](http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1039725) (Third-party advisory, Vulnerability database) ## Questions ### What is CVE-2017-12281? CVE-2017-12281 is a high-severity flaw in Aironet 1800 Firmware from Cisco, published on 2 November 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 read data, change data and take it offline. ### How serious is CVE-2017-12281? It scores 7.5 out of 10 on the CVSS severity scale, which is high. Our risk score for CVE-2017-12281 is 46 out of 100, which is Medium. Its action is "Plan remediation". No sign of exploitation and a low forecast. Patch it in your normal update cycle. ### Is CVE-2017-12281 being exploited? It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 0.7%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching. ### Which versions does CVE-2017-12281 affect? For Aironet 1800 Firmware from Cisco: version not specified. The record lists 12 products in all, each with its versions, under "Who is affected" on this page. ### How do I fix CVE-2017-12281? 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. ## Does CVE-2017-12281 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. Start free (no card, nothing to install): https://www.precursorintelligence.com/register Book a demo: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/contact