CVE-2017-12261

What it is

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.

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited locally on the machine with a low-privilege account. High risk of data exposure, data tampering, service disruption.

Exploit odds

0.3% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

1. 2017-11-02 16:29 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-06-17 01:02 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 0.3% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 7.8 HIGH (CVSS).
• Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published

2017-11-02 16:29 UTC

Last modified

2026-06-17 01:02 UTC

Exploit probability

0.3% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-264

Record status

Modified

Affected

• Cisco Identity Services Engine 1.4
• Cisco Identity Services Engine 2.0
• Cisco Identity Services Engine 2.0.1
• Cisco Identity Services Engine 2.1.0
• Cisco Identity Services Engine Express 1.4
• Cisco Identity Services Engine Express 2.0
• Cisco Identity Services Engine Express 2.0.1
• Cisco Identity Services Engine Express 2.1.0

Attack profile CVSS 3.0 · 7.8

Attack vector

Local

Complexity

Low

Privileges needed

Low

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High

Is it in your code?

Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.

Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2017-12261.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2017-12261. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

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