CVE-2023-44192 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

An Improper Input Validation vulnerability in the Packet Forwarding Engine of Juniper Networks Junos OS has been identified as CVE-2023-44192. This vulnerability allows an unauthenticated attacker to cause a memory leak, resulting in Denial of Service (DoS) conditions on affected systems.

Understanding CVE-2023-44192

This section provides an overview of the vulnerability, its impact, technical details, and mitigation steps.

What is CVE-2023-44192?

CVE-2023-44192 is an Improper Input Validation vulnerability in the Packet Forwarding Engine of Juniper Networks Junos OS. It allows an unauthenticated, network-based attacker to trigger a memory leak, leading to Denial of Service (DoS) conditions.

The Impact of CVE-2023-44192

The vulnerability affects Juniper Networks Junos OS QFX5000 Series platforms. When specific DHCP packets are transmitted under an EVPN-VXLAN scenario, a memory leak occurs, reaching 99%. This can cause protocols to stop working, impacting network traffic. A manual system reboot is required to recover from the memory leak.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-44192

The vulnerability arises when shared tunnels are configured under the EVPN-VXLAN scenario on QFX5000 Series platforms.

Vulnerability Description

The Packet Forwarding Engine of Juniper Networks Junos OS is susceptible to the memory leak caused by the improper handling of specific DHCP packets under pseudo-VTEP configuration. Monitoring logs for specific error messages can help confirm the memory leak.

Affected Systems and Versions

Juniper Networks Junos OS QFX5000 Series platforms are affected by this vulnerability across multiple versions as specified in the configurations.

Exploitation Mechanism

Juniper SIRT has not detected any instances of malicious exploitation of this vulnerability.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-44192, immediate steps should be taken to mitigate the risk and prevent potential attacks.

Immediate Steps to Take

There are no known workarounds for this issue. It is recommended to apply the provided software updates to resolve the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing regular software updates, monitoring for unusual network activity, and maintaining up-to-date security protocols can help enhance the overall security posture.

Patching and Updates

Juniper Networks has released updated software versions to address CVE-2023-44192. Users are advised to upgrade to the following releases or later: Junos OS 20.4R3-S6, 21.1R3-S5, 21.2R3-S5, 21.3R3-S4, 21.4R3-S3, 22.1R3-S2, 22.2R2-S2, 22.2R3, 22.3R2-S1, 22.3R3, 22.4R1-S2, 22.4R2, 23.2R1, and subsequent versions.