--- title: "CVE-2017-12238: Resource Management Errors | CubePath" 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…" language: en source: https://cubepath.com/security/cve/CVE-2017-12238 --- # CVE-2017-12238: Resource Management Errors | CubePath ## 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. Official description from the CVE record, published by cisco. Copyright © 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. See [/security/cve/legal](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal) for the CVE license. [View the record on cve.org](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-12238) ## Key data ### CVSS 3.1 Medium 6.5 Score published by CISA-ADP in the CVE record. CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H | Metric | Value | What it means | | ---------------------- | --------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Attack vector | Adjacent | The attacker needs to be on the same shared network segment or a closely related one. | | Attack complexity | Low | No special conditions are needed. The attack can be repeated at will. | | Privileges required | None | No account or privileges are needed. | | User interaction | None | No action from any user is needed. | | Scope | Unchanged | The impact stays within the vulnerable component. | | Confidentiality impact | None | No effect on the secrecy of data. | | Integrity impact | None | No effect on the trustworthiness of data. | | Availability impact | High | Serious or total effect on availability. | CVSS is owned and managed by FIRST.Org, Inc. (FIRST) and is used by permission. Each CVSS score on this site is shown together with its vector string, as published in the CVE record by the source named next to it. Learn more at [first.org/cvss](https://www.first.org/cvss/) . ### EPSS Exploit Prediction Scoring System by FIRST: an estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days. Score 0.02017 (2.0% probability) Percentile 81.1% Scores of Nov 10, 2026 Model v2026.06.15 ### CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities This CVE is listed in the CISA KEV catalog. Name in the catalog Cisco Catalyst 6800 Series Switches VPLS Denial-of-Service Vulnerability Added to the catalog Mar 3, 2022 Federal due date Mar 24, 2022 ### CISA assessment as of Nov 8, 2024 Stakeholder-Specific Vulnerability Categorization (SSVC) decision points added by CISA. Exploitation Recorded by CISA as active Automatable no Technical impact partial ### Weakness (CWE) CWE catalog version 5.0. CWE names: Copyright © 2006-2026, The MITRE Corporation. See [/security/cve/legal](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal) for the CWE license. - [CWE-399](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/399.html) Resource Management Errors ## Affected products Products listed in the CVE record, as the CNA published them. - Cisco IOS - affected: Cisco IOS ## References Links listed in the CVE record. They lead to other sites, which CubePath does not control. - [1039453](http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1039453) (securitytracker.com) vdb-entry - [101040](http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/101040) (securityfocus.com) vdb-entry - [tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdviso…](https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20170927-vpls) ## Timeline 1. ID reserved Aug 3, 2017 2. Record published Sep 28, 2017 3. Added to CISA KEV Mar 3, 2022 4. Record last updated Jan 12, 2026 ## Look up another CVE ## About CubePath CubePath is a cloud provider with data centers in Europe and the United States. It offers VPS, bare metal servers and DDoS protection. [Cloud VPS](https://cubepath.com/vps) [DDoS protection](https://cubepath.com/ddos-protection) Data from the CVE Program (MITRE), CISA KEV and FIRST EPSS. CVSS is owned by FIRST and used by permission. Not affiliated with or endorsed by MITRE, CISA or FIRST. Data as of Nov 10, 2026, 19:33 UTC. [Sources and licenses](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal)