---
id: "CVE-2018-0151"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2018-0151"]
title: "Cisco IOS and IOS XE Software: Cisco IOS Software and Cisco IOS XE Software Quality of Service Remote Code Execution Vulnerability"
severity: "critical"
cvss: 10.0
epss: 0.14197
exploited: true
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: [{"name": "Cisco IOS and IOS XE Software", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["cisco", "exploited", "infrastructure", "ios", "ios-xe", "network-gear"]
not_affected_if: ["default-config"]
published_at: "2018-03-28T22:29:00+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "kev", "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2018-0151", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00"}, {"source": "epss", "url": "https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2018-0151", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:13:44+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-0151", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00"}]
---

# Cisco IOS and IOS XE Software: Cisco IOS Software and Cisco IOS XE Software Quality of Service Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

A flaw in the Quality of Service subsystem of Cisco IOS and IOS XE lets a remote, unauthenticated attacker crash the device or run arbitrary code with elevated privileges. CISA lists it as actively exploited in the wild.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:Cisco IOS and IOS XE Software affected ? fixed ?

## Fix

Apply the Cisco IOS/IOS XE update per vendor instructions (CISA required action). Specific fixed versions: unknown.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2018-0151
- 2026-10-23T19:13:44+00:00 epss https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2018-0151
- 2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-0151

## From the sources

A vulnerability in the quality of service (QoS) subsystem of Cisco IOS Software and Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition or execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The vulnerability is due to incorrect bounds checking of certain values in packets that are destined for UDP port 18999 of an affected device. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending malicious packets to an affected device. When the packets are processed, an exploitable buffer overflow condition may occur. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code on the affected device with elevated privileges. The attacker could also leverage this vulnerability to cause the device to reload, causing a temporary DoS condition while the device is reloading. The malicious packets must be destined to and processed by an affected device. Traffic transiting a device will not trigger the vulnerability. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvf73881.

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_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_