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Actively exploited

CVE-2017-6316 Citrix Multiple Products Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

A vulnerability has been identified in the management interface of Citrix NetScaler SD-WAN Enterprise and Standard Edition and Citrix CloudBridge Virtual WAN Edition that could result in an unauthenticated, remote attacker being able to execute arbitrary code as a root user. This vulnerability also affects XenMobile Server.

From the CISA KEV catalogue version 2026.11.06, with Cybergen analysis. Updated 6 Nov 2026.

Our Assessment

Should You Worry?

Patch nowCybergen assessment
  • CISA confirmed exploitation in the wild and added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on 25 Mar 2022.
  • Rated Critical severity (CVSS 9.8, scored by CISA).
  • This product type is often exposed to the internet, which is where attackers scan for it first.
  • It has been in the catalogue for 1,687 days. Systems still unpatched now have almost certainly been scanned for it.
The Vulnerability

What It Is

Citrix NetScaler SD-WAN devices through v9.1.2.26.561201 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary shell commands as root via a CGISESSID cookie. On CloudBridge (the former name of NetScaler SD-WAN) devices, the cookie name was CAKEPHP rather than CGISESSID.

From Watch to Action

What To Do Now

  1. 1

    Find it

    Search your asset inventory and external attack surface for Citrix NetScaler SD-WAN Enterprise, CloudBridge Virtual WAN, and XenMobile Server. Include cloud images, appliances and anything a supplier runs for you.

    Attack Surface Management
  2. 2

    Fix it

    Apply updates per vendor instructions.

    Vulnerability Management
  3. 3

    Hunt for compromise

    If an affected system was reachable before you patched, assume it may have been hit. Check logs, new accounts, web shells and outbound connections from the date of exposure.

    Incident Response
  4. 4

    Prove it is fixed

    Rescan or test the system after patching. Upgrades that fail silently and forgotten secondary instances are common.

    Penetration Testing

Vendor Advisories

Regulation

The Compliance Clock

Cyber EssentialsRated critical, so if it affects devices in your Cyber Essentials scope, the update must be installed within 14 days of the vendor releasing it.NIS2If exploitation causes a significant incident, essential and important entities owe their CSIRT an early warning within 24 hours and a notification within 72 hours.DORAFinancial entities must classify ICT incidents and send an initial notification for a major incident within strict deadlines, with exploited flaws a common cause.US federal (BOD 22-01)Federal civilian agencies had until 15 Apr 2022 to remediate. A sensible benchmark for everyone else.

General guidance, not legal advice. Your obligations depend on your sector, scope and jurisdiction.

Stay Ahead

More Exploited Citrix Flaws

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CVE-2026-88779Citrix NetScaler Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer VulnerabilityAdded 4 Oct 2026CVE-2026-88772Citrix NetScaler Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer VulnerabilityAdded 27 Sep 2026CVE-2026-88771Citrix NetScaler Improper Input Validation VulnerabilityAdded 27 Sep 2026CVE-2026-19490Citrix NetScaler Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel VulnerabilityAdded 9 Sep 2026CVE-2026-8452Citrix NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer VulnerabilityAdded 26 Aug 2026CVE-2026-3055Citrix NetScaler Out-of-Bounds Read VulnerabilityAdded 30 Mar 2026

All 27 exploited Citrix vulnerabilities

Not Sure If You Are Exposed?

Our attack surface and vulnerability teams can check your internet-facing estate for CVE-2017-6316 and every other exploited flaw on the list.

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Evidence

Sources

  1. CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue
  2. NVD: CVE-2017-6316
  3. CVE record: CVE-2017-6316
  4. FIRST EPSS
  5. securitytracker.com/id/1039019
  6. support.citrix.com/article/CTX225990
  7. exploit-db.com/exploits/42345/
  8. securityfocus.com/bid/99943
  9. exploit-db.com/exploits/42346/