CVE-2023-22413 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE, assigned by Juniper, pertains to the Multiservices PIC Management Daemon (mspmand) in Junos OS on MX Series. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) by crashing the mspmand process when specific IPv4 packets are processed in an IPsec6 tunnel.

Understanding CVE-2023-22413

This section delves into the details of the CVE-2023-22413 vulnerability.

What is CVE-2023-22413?

The vulnerability stems from an Improper Check or Handling of Exceptional Conditions in the IPsec library of Juniper Networks Junos OS. It allows an unauthenticated attacker to trigger a DoS by causing the mspmand process to crash and subsequently impacting traffic flow. This issue affects Juniper Networks Junos OS on MX Series devices.

The Impact of CVE-2023-22413

The exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to a sustained Denial of Service (DoS) condition due to the FPC crash triggered by the mspmand process restarting. The impact includes disruption of traffic flows until the issue is mitigated.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-22413

Here we discuss the technical aspects of CVE-2023-22413.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises in the IPsec library of Juniper Networks Junos OS, allowing an unauthenticated attacker to cause a DoS by crashing the mspmand process on MX Series devices when specific IPv4 packets are processed in an IPsec6 tunnel.

Affected Systems and Versions

Juniper Networks Junos OS versions prior to 19.4R3-S9, along with specific versions of 20.1, 20.2, 20.3, 20.4, 21.1, 21.2, 21.3, 21.4, and 22.1 are affected by this vulnerability if an IPv4 address is not configured on the multiservice interface.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by sending specific IPv4 packets through an IPsec6 tunnel on affected devices, leading to the crash of the mspmand process and subsequent DoS impact.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section provides insight into mitigating the risks posed by CVE-2023-22413.

Immediate Steps to Take

To mitigate this vulnerability, it is recommended to configure a valid IPv4 address on the multiservice interface to prevent the exploitation and resulting DoS condition.

Long-Term Security Practices

In the long term, maintaining up-to-date software releases that address this specific issue is crucial in preventing potential exploitation and ensuring the security of the network infrastructure.

Patching and Updates

Juniper Networks has released software updates to resolve CVE-2023-22413, including versions 19.4R3-S9, 20.2R3-S5, 20.3R3-S5, 20.4R3-S4, 21.1R3-S3, 21.2R3-S1, 21.3R3, 21.4R3, 22.1R2, 22.2R1, and all subsequent releases. It is essential to apply these patches promptly to safeguard against potential exploits.