# CVE-2017-12272: Cross-site scripting in Cisco IOS XE

> Unauthenticated remote attackers can execute arbitrary script code or access sensitive browser-based information via XSS in the Cisco IOS XE web interface.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.1 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 19 Oct 2017
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-85gm-vc8f-chp4

## What is CVE-2017-12272?

CVE-2017-12272 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Cisco Ios Xe, published on 19 Oct 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

A vulnerability in the web framework code of Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack against a user of the web interface of the affected software. The vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation of some parameters that are passed to the web server of the affected software. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by convincing a user of the web interface to access a malicious link or by intercepting a user request for the affected web interface and injecting malicious code into the request. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary script code in the context of the affected web interface or allow the attacker to access sensitive browser-based information. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvb09516.

Weakness: CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-12272?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Cisco Ios Xe.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-12272?

No fix has been published for CVE-2017-12272 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2017-12272 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-12272 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Ios Xe

- [CVE-2023-20198](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-20198/): Cisco IOS XE Web UI Privilege Escalation (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2018-0151](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-0151/): Cisco IOS Software and Cisco IOS XE Software Quality of Service Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2023-20273](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-20273/): Cisco IOS XE Web UI Command Injection (high 7.2, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-20188](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-20188/): Hardcoded credentials in Cisco IOS XE Software (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2021-34770](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-34770/): Cisco IOS XE Software for Catalyst 9000 Family Wireless Controllers CAPWAP Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (critical 10.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-12272 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-12272 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Cisco Ios Xe, published on 19 Oct 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-12272 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Cisco Ios Xe. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-12272/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-12272/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-12272
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-12272
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-12272

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-12272/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.