Improper authentication in Cisco Meshed Wireless LAN Controller
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Adjacent network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-287.
Summary
A vulnerability in the mesh code of Cisco Wireless LAN Controller (WLC) software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to impersonate a WLC in a meshed topology. The vulnerability is due to insufficient authentication of the parent access point in a mesh configuration. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by forcing the target system to disconnect from the correct parent access point and reconnect to a rogue access point owned by the attacker. An exploit could allow the attacker to control the traffic flowing through the impacted access point or take full control of the target system. This vulnerability affects the following products running a vulnerable version of Wireless LAN Controller software and configured for meshed mode: Cisco 8500 Series Wireless Controller, Cisco 5500 Series Wireless Controller, Cisco 2500 Series Wireless Controller, Cisco Flex 7500 Series Wireless Controller, Cisco Virtual Wireless Controller, Wireless Services Module 2 (WiSM2). Note that additional configuration is needed in addition to upgrading to a fixed release. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCuc98992 CSCuu14804.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Cisco Meshed Wireless LAN Controller | Cisco Meshed Wireless LAN Controller | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Cisco Meshed Wireless LAN Controller Vendor— Affected Cisco Meshed Wireless LAN Controller Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 16
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:cisco:wireless_lan_controller_firmware:8.0.72.140:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0.72.140 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:o:cisco:wireless_lan_controller_software:6.0199.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.0199.4 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:o:cisco:wireless_lan_controller_software:7.41.54:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.41.54 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:o:cisco:wireless_lan_controller_software:7.0220.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0220.0 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:o:cisco:wireless_lan_controller_software:7.0250.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0250.0 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:o:cisco:wireless_lan_controller_software:16.088.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 16.088.0 | Vulnerable | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:2500_wireless_lan_controller:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:2504_wireless_lan_controller:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:5500_wireless_lan_controller:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:5508_wireless_lan_controller:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
- cpe:2.3:o:cisco:wireless_lan_controller_firmware:8.0.72.140:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0.72.140 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:o:cisco:wireless_lan_controller_software:6.0199.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.0199.4 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:o:cisco:wireless_lan_controller_software:7.41.54:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.41.54 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:o:cisco:wireless_lan_controller_software:7.0220.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0220.0 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:o:cisco:wireless_lan_controller_software:7.0250.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0250.0 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:o:cisco:wireless_lan_controller_software:16.088.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 16.088.0 Vulnerable ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:2500_wireless_lan_controller:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:2504_wireless_lan_controller:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:5500_wireless_lan_controller:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:5508_wireless_lan_controller:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
Show 6 more CPE
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:7500_wireless_lan_controller:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:7510_wireless_lan_controller:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8510_wireless_lan_controller:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8540_wireless_lan_controller:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:virtual_wireless_controller:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
| cpe:2.3:h:cisco:wireless_service_module_2:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Cisco |
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:7500_wireless_lan_controller:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:7510_wireless_lan_controller:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8510_wireless_lan_controller:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:8540_wireless_lan_controller:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:virtual_wireless_controller:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
- cpe:2.3:h:cisco:wireless_service_module_2:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Cisco
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2017-3854
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-w9r3-r3v7-mcvc
References
More Cisco Wireless Lan Controller Firmware vulnerabilities
- TI-2017-02929 Access control flaw in Cisco Wireless LAN Controller CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2016-07547 Improper input validation in Cisco Wireless LAN Controller CVSS 3.0HIGH 7.5
Sources
- CVE-2017-3854 · CVE Program
- CVE-2017-3854 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-w9r3-r3v7-mcvc · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences