CVE-2023-44190 : What You Need to Know

A vulnerability has been identified in Juniper Networks Junos OS Evolved that allows a network-adjacent attacker to bypass MAC address checking, potentially leading to congestion and network issues. This article provides an overview of CVE-2023-44190 and offers insights into its impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

Understanding CVE-2023-44190

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability, affected systems, and the potential consequences of exploitation.

What is CVE-2023-44190?

An Origin Validation vulnerability in MAC address validation of Juniper Networks Junos OS Evolved on PTX10001, PTX10004, PTX10008, and PTX10016 devices allows unauthorized MAC addresses to be forwarded, causing network congestion.

The Impact of CVE-2023-44190

The vulnerability can be exploited by a network-adjacent attacker, leading to loop formation and congestion in the downstream layer-2 domain connected to the affected devices.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-44190

This section provides detailed technical information related to the vulnerability, affected systems, and the mechanism of exploitation.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows malicious actors to bypass MAC address checking, leading to unauthorized MAC addresses being forwarded to downstream networks, potentially causing network congestion.

Affected Systems and Versions

Juniper Networks Junos OS Evolved versions prior to 21.4R3-S5-EVO, 22.1R3-S4-EVO, 22.3R2-S2-EVO, 22.3R3-S1-EVO, 22.4R2-S1-EVO, 22.4R3-EVO, 23.2R1-S1-EVO, and 23.2R2-EVO are affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by a network-adjacent attacker to bypass MAC address checking and forward unauthorized MAC addresses, causing loop formation and congestion.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section outlines the necessary steps to mitigate the impact of CVE-2023-44190 and prevent potential exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

Ensure that the affected Junos OS Evolved versions are updated with the provided patches to mitigate the vulnerability and prevent unauthorized MAC address forwarding.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and monitor Juniper Networks Junos OS Evolved to stay protected against emerging vulnerabilities and ensure network security.

Patching and Updates

Juniper Networks has released updated software versions, including 21.4R3-S5-EVO, 22.1R3-S4-EVO, 22.3R2-S2-EVO, 22.3R3-S1-EVO, 22.4R2-S1-EVO, 22.4R3-EVO, 23.2R1-S1-EVO, 23.2R2-EVO, 23.3R1-EVO, and subsequent releases, to address the vulnerability.