CVE-2017-12261 Privilege escalation in Cisco Identity Services Engine
An authenticated local attacker can execute arbitrary CLI commands with elevated privileges due to incomplete input validation in the restricted shell.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2017-12261?
CVE-2017-12261 is a high-severity vulnerability in Cisco Identity Services Engine, published on 2 Nov 2017. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
A vulnerability in the restricted shell of the Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) that is accessible via SSH could allow an authenticated, local attacker to run arbitrary CLI commands with elevated privileges. The vulnerability is due to incomplete input validation of the user input for CLI commands issued at the restricted shell. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by authenticating to the targeted device and executing commands that could lead to elevated privileges. An attacker would need valid user credentials to the device to exploit this vulnerability. The vulnerability affects the following Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) products running Release 1.4, 2.0, 2.0.1, 2.1.0: ISE, ISE Express, ISE Virtual Appliance. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCve74916.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-12261?
It affects 3 products.
Products include Cisco Identity Services Engine, Cisco Identity Services Engine Express, Cisco Identity Services Engine Virtual Appliance.
How do I fix CVE-2017-12261?
No fix has been published for CVE-2017-12261 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Is CVE-2017-12261 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-12261 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Identity Services Engine
- CVE-2026-76460 Cisco Identity Services Engine Incorrect Use of Privileged APIs
- CVE-2025-20337 Cisco Identity Services Engine Injection
- CVE-2025-20281 Cisco Identity Services Engine Injection
- CVE-2026-20130 Cisco Identity Services Engine Hardening Release - Improper Neutralization Vulnerabilities
- CVE-2026-20192 Cisco Identity Services Engine Hardening Release - Access Control Vulnerabilities
Sources
Also known as GHSA-vfpm-r25x-9hg6.