CVE-2024-21617 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This CVE-2024-21617 article provides detailed information about a vulnerability affecting Juniper Networks Junos OS.

Understanding CVE-2024-21617

The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-21617 impacts Juniper Networks Junos OS, potentially leading to a Denial of Service (DoS) due to a memory leak triggered by Nonstop active routing (NSR) configuration.

What is CVE-2024-21617?

An Incomplete Cleanup vulnerability within the Nonstop active routing (NSR) component of Juniper Networks Junos OS may allow an adjacent, unauthenticated attacker to cause a memory leak, resulting in a DoS situation. When NSR is enabled, a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) flap can lead to the memory leak issue. Manually rebooting the system is necessary to restore normal services.

The Impact of CVE-2024-21617

This vulnerability, when exploited, could result in a disruption of services due to memory leaks, potentially impacting the availability of the affected Junos OS platforms.

Technical Details of CVE-2024-21617

This section delves into the specific technical aspects of the CVE-2024-21617 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from an Incomplete Cleanup flaw in the NSR component, allowing unauthorized attackers to exploit it and cause a memory leak, which leads to a DoS condition.

Affected Systems and Versions

Juniper Networks Junos OS versions 21.2 to 22.4 are affected by this vulnerability, with specific vulnerable versions mentioned for each release.

Exploitation Mechanism

The exploit leverages the Nonstop active routing (NSR) feature in Junos OS, triggered by a BGP flap, resulting in a memory leak and subsequent Denial of Service.

Mitigation and Prevention

Understanding how to mitigate and prevent the CVE-2024-21617 vulnerability is crucial to maintaining the security of affected systems.

Immediate Steps to Take

Immediately update the Junos OS to the fixed versions as specified by Juniper Networks to address the vulnerability and prevent potential exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor system memory usage and implement security best practices to mitigate similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that the Junos OS is updated to the patched versions provided by Juniper Networks to eliminate the vulnerability and enhance the overall security posture of the system.

Taking these steps will help safeguard the affected systems from potential exploitation of CVE-2024-21617.