CVE-2018-0161: Technical Deep-Dive (Auto Refreshed)

Generated on 2026-03-31T21:14:43.400Z. This file is automatically regenerated every 30 minutes by the CVE AI enrichment job using web sources (NVD, MITRE, CISA KEV, GitHub).

Executive Technical Summary

A vulnerability in the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) subsystem of Cisco IOS Software running on certain models of Cisco Catalyst Switches could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition, aka a GET MIB Object ID Denial of Service Vulnerability. The vulnerability is due to a condition that could occur when the affected software processes an SNMP read request that contains a request for the ciscoFlashMIB object ID (OID). An attacker could trigger this vulnerability by issuing an SNMP GET request for the ciscoFlashMIB OID on an affected device. A successful exploit could cause the affected device to restart due to a SYS-3-CPUHOG. This vulnerability affects the following Cisco devices if they are running a vulnerable release of Cisco IOS Software and are configured to use SNMP Version 2 (SNMPv2) or SNMP Version 3 (SNMPv3): Cisco Catalyst 2960-L Series Switches, Cisco Catalyst Digital Building Series Switches 8P, Cisco Catalyst Digital Building Series Switches 8U. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvd89541.

• Context preserved from previous revision: A vulnerability in the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) subsystem of Cisco IOS Software running on certain models of Cisco Catalyst Switches could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition, aka a GET MIB Object ID Denial of Service Vulnerability. The vulnerability is due to a condition that could occur when the affected software processes an SNMP read request that contains a request for the ciscoFlashMIB object ID (OID). An attacker could trigger this vulnerability by issuing an SNMP GET request for the ciscoFlashMIB OID on an affected device. A successful exploit could cause the affected device to restart due to a SYS-3-CPUHOG. This vulnerability affects the following Cisco devices if they are running a vulnerable release of Cisco IOS Software and are configured to use SNMP Version 2 (SNMPv2) or SNMP Version 3 (SNMPv3): Cisco Catalyst 2960-L Series Switches, Cisco Catalyst Digital Building Series Switches 8P, Cisco Catalyst Digital Building Series Switches 8U. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvd89541. Notes: Ostorlab KEV: One-command to detect most remotely known exploitable vulnerabilities. Sourced from CISA KEV, Google's Tsunami, Ostorlab's Asteroid and Bug Bounty programs.

Technical Details

• CVE: CVE-2018-0161
• KEV date added: 2022-03-03
• KEV due date: 2022-03-17
• NVD published: 2018-03-29
• NVD modified: 2026-01-14
• MITRE modified: 2026-01-12
• CVSS base score: 6.3
• CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H
• CVSS exploitability score: 1.8
• CVSS impact score: 4
• Attack vector: Network
• Attack complexity: High
• Privileges required: Low
• User interaction: None
• Scope: Changed
• Confidentiality impact: None
• Integrity impact: None
• Availability impact: High

Versions and Products Impacted

• cisco / ios (versions: 15.2(5)e)
• n/a / Cisco IOS (versions: Cisco IOS)

Weakness Classification

• CWE-399
• NVD-CWE-noinfo

Repositories for Lab Validation (Public Examples)

• Ostorlab/KEV | stars: 608 | updated: 2026-03-23 | https://github.com/Ostorlab/KEV
  Notes: Ostorlab KEV: One-command to detect most remotely known exploitable vulnerabilities. Sourced from CISA KEV, Google's Tsunami, Ostorlab's Asteroid and Bug Bounty programs.
• chnzzh/OpenSSL-CVE-lib | stars: 6 | updated: 2026-03-31 | https://github.com/chnzzh/OpenSSL-CVE-lib

People and Organizations Mentioned

• cisco
• IOS Software
• Ostorlab
• chnzzh

Practical Defensive Validation (Authorized Only)

1. Use only isolated environments and systems you own or are explicitly authorized to test.
2. Snapshot infrastructure before validation and preserve baseline logs (EDR, SIEM, OS, app).
3. Inventory cisco / ios (versions: 15.2(5)e) assets and confirm exact vulnerable versions with automated checks.
4. Patch in staged environments and validate closure with scanners + service health checks.
5. Map detections to MITRE ATT&CK tactics relevant to your environment and tune alert quality.

References

• NVD record: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-0161
• MITRE CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-0161
• CISA KEV Catalog: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog
• CISA KEV JSON feed: https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/feeds/known_exploited_vulnerabilities.json
• KEV notes: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-0161
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/103573
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1040589
• https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20180328-snmp
• https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2018-0161
• Repository example: https://github.com/Ostorlab/KEV
• Repository example: https://github.com/chnzzh/OpenSSL-CVE-lib

This content is for defensive security training and authorized validation only.