📄 Description (English)
Cisco IOS and IOS XE Software DHCP Remote Code Execution Vulnerability — The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) relay subsystem of Cisco IOS and Cisco IOS XE Software contains a vulnerability that could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary code and gain full control of an affected system.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
CVE-2017-12240 is a critical remote code execution vulnerability in the DHCP relay subsystem of Cisco IOS and IOS XE Software, allowing an unauthenticated remote attacker to execute arbitrary code and gain full control of affected network devices. With a CVSS score of 9.0 and known exploits available, this vulnerability poses an extreme risk to any organization running affected Cisco networking equipment. The vulnerability requires no authentication, making it particularly dangerous in environments where DHCP relay is enabled on internet-facing or internally accessible interfaces. Immediate patching is essential as exploitation could lead to complete network infrastructure compromise.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: Apr 8, 2026 00:36
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
This vulnerability has severe implications for Saudi organizations given the widespread deployment of Cisco IOS/IOS XE devices across critical sectors. Banking institutions regulated by SAMA rely heavily on Cisco infrastructure for core network operations. Government entities under NCA oversight, including ministries and public services, use Cisco routers and switches extensively. Energy sector organizations including Saudi Aramco and utility companies depend on Cisco networking equipment for operational technology (OT) and IT networks. Telecom providers such as STC, Mobily, and Zain use Cisco infrastructure at scale. Healthcare organizations and educational institutions are also at significant risk. Exploitation could lead to complete network takeover, data exfiltration, and disruption of critical services across Saudi Arabia's digital infrastructure.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Banking
Government
Energy
Telecommunications
Healthcare
Education
Defense
Transportation
Retail
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
9.2
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Identify all Cisco IOS and IOS XE devices with DHCP relay enabled using 'show running-config | include ip helper-address'
2. Apply Cisco security patches immediately — refer to Cisco Security Advisory cisco-sa-20170927-dhcp
3. If patching is not immediately possible, disable DHCP relay functionality on non-essential interfaces
PATCHING GUIDANCE:
1. Download and apply the fixed software versions from Cisco's Software Center
2. Use Cisco's IOS Software Checker tool to identify the appropriate fixed release
3. Schedule emergency maintenance windows for critical infrastructure devices
4. Test patches in a lab environment before production deployment where possible
COMPENSATING CONTROLS:
1. Implement ACLs to restrict DHCP traffic (UDP ports 67/68) to trusted sources only
2. Enable Control Plane Policing (CoPP) to rate-limit DHCP packets
3. Segment networks to limit the blast radius of potential exploitation
4. Deploy IPS/IDS signatures to detect DHCP-based exploitation attempts
DETECTION RULES:
1. Monitor for anomalous DHCP relay traffic patterns and oversized DHCP packets
2. Implement Snort/Suricata rules for CVE-2017-12240 exploitation attempts
3. Enable syslog monitoring on all Cisco devices for unexpected crashes or reloads
4. Monitor for unauthorized configuration changes on network devices
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تحديد جميع أجهزة Cisco IOS و IOS XE التي تم تفعيل ترحيل DHCP عليها باستخدام 'show running-config | include ip helper-address'
2. تطبيق تصحيحات Cisco الأمنية فوراً — الرجوع إلى تنبيه Cisco الأمني cisco-sa-20170927-dhcp
3. في حالة عدم إمكانية التصحيح الفوري، تعطيل وظيفة ترحيل DHCP على الواجهات غير الأساسية
إرشادات التصحيح:
1. تنزيل وتطبيق إصدارات البرامج المصححة من مركز برامج Cisco
2. استخدام أداة فحص برامج Cisco IOS لتحديد الإصدار المصحح المناسب
3. جدولة نوافذ صيانة طارئة لأجهزة البنية التحتية الحرجة
4. اختبار التصحيحات في بيئة مختبرية قبل النشر في بيئة الإنتاج حيثما أمكن
الضوابط التعويضية:
1. تنفيذ قوائم التحكم في الوصول لتقييد حركة DHCP (منافذ UDP 67/68) للمصادر الموثوقة فقط
2. تفعيل سياسة حماية مستوى التحكم (CoPP) للحد من حزم DHCP
3. تقسيم الشبكات للحد من نطاق الاستغلال المحتمل
4. نشر توقيعات IPS/IDS للكشف عن محاولات الاستغلال المبنية على DHCP
قواعد الكشف:
1. مراقبة أنماط حركة ترحيل DHCP غير الطبيعية والحزم كبيرة الحجم
2. تنفيذ قواعد Snort/Suricata لمحاولات استغلال CVE-2017-12240
3. تفعيل مراقبة سجلات النظام على جميع أجهزة Cisco للأعطال أو إعادة التشغيل غير المتوقعة
4. مراقبة التغييرات غير المصرح بها في تكوين أجهزة الشبكة
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
ECC-2:3-1 (Network Security)
ECC-2:3-2 (Vulnerability Management)
ECC-2:3-4 (Security Monitoring)
ECC-2:2-1 (Asset Management)
ECC-2:5-1 (Incident Management)
🔵 SAMA CSF
3.3.3 (Network Security Management)
3.3.4 (Patch Management)
3.3.7 (Vulnerability Management)
3.4.1 (Security Event Monitoring)
3.3.5 (Infrastructure Security)
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
A.8.8 (Management of Technical Vulnerabilities)
A.8.20 (Networks Security)
A.8.21 (Security of Network Services)
A.8.9 (Configuration Management)
A.5.24 (Information Security Incident Management)
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0
6.3.3 (Patching Security Vulnerabilities)
11.3 (Penetration Testing)
1.2 (Network Security Controls)
6.2 (Develop Software Securely)
11.5 (Network Intrusion Detection)
🔗 References & Sources 0
No references.
📦 Affected Products / CPE 1 entries
Cisco:IOS and IOS XE Software