CVE-2022-22215 : What You Need to Know

A Missing Release of File Descriptor or Handle after Effective Lifetime vulnerability in plugable authentication module (PAM) of Juniper Networks Junos OS and Junos OS Evolved allows a locally authenticated attacker with low privileges to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) by potentially not deleting "/var/run/<pid>.env" files during the termination of a gRPC connection, leading to inode exhaustion. This article provides detailed insights into the impact, technical details, mitigation, and prevention of CVE-2022-22215.

Understanding CVE-2022-22215

This section delves into the specifics of the CVE-2022-22215 vulnerability affecting Junos OS and Junos OS Evolved.

What is CVE-2022-22215?

CVE-2022-22215 is a vulnerability in Juniper Networks Junos OS and Junos OS Evolved, potentially causing Denial of Service (DoS) by not deleting "/var/run/<pid>.env" files upon the termination of a gRPC connection.

The Impact of CVE-2022-22215

The vulnerability could lead to inode exhaustion, resulting in a DoS scenario. Attackers with low privileges can exploit this issue.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-22215

Let's explore the technical aspects related to CVE-2022-22215.

Vulnerability Description

After the termination of a gRPC connection, the failure to delete "/var/run/<pid>.env" files may lead to inode exhaustion.

Affected Systems and Versions

Junos OS: Versions prior to 19.1R3-S8, 19.2R3-S6, 19.3R3-S5, 19.4R2-S6, 19.4R3-S7, 20.1R1, 20.2R3-S5, 20.3R3-S4, 20.4R3, 21.1R3, 21.2R2
Junos OS Evolved: Versions prior to 20.4R3-EVO, 21.1R3-S1-EVO, 21.2R1-S1-EVO, 21.2R2-EVO

Exploitation Mechanism

Juniper SIRT has not detected any malicious exploitation associated with CVE-2022-22215.

Mitigation and Prevention

Discover the steps to mitigate the risks posed by CVE-2022-22215.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade to the following fixed software releases:

Junos OS: 19.1R3-S8, 19.2R3-S6, 19.3R3-S5, 19.4R2-S6, 19.4R3-S7, 20.2R3-S5, 20.3R3-S4, 20.4R3, 21.1R3, 21.2R2, 21.3R1, and later releases.
Junos OS Evolved: 20.4R3-EVO, 21.1R3-S1-EVO, 21.2R1-S1-EVO, 21.2R2-EVO, 21.3R1-EVO, and subsequent releases.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement access controls such as access lists or firewall filters to restrict device access to trusted administrative networks or hosts.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely application of software updates and patches released by Juniper Networks to address CVE-2022-22215.