CVE-2013-4690 in Junos
Summary
by MITRE
Juniper Junos 10.4 before 10.4S13, 11.4 before 11.4R7-S1, 12.1 before 12.1R5-S3, 12.1X44 before 12.1X44-D20, and 12.1X45 before 12.1X45-D10 on the SRX1400, SRX3400, and SRX3600 does not properly initialize memory locations used during padding of Ethernet packets, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information by reading packet data, aka PR 829536, a related issue to CVE-2003-0001.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2024
This vulnerability affects Juniper Junos operating system versions running on SRX series security devices including SRX1400, SRX3400, and SRX3600 platforms. The flaw resides in the Ethernet packet processing mechanism where memory locations intended for packet padding are not properly initialized before use. This improper memory initialization creates a condition where residual data from previous operations may persist in memory areas allocated for packet padding, potentially exposing sensitive information to unauthorized parties. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it allows remote attackers to obtain confidential data by simply reading packet contents, making it a significant security risk for network infrastructure devices.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the packet processing pipeline where Ethernet frames are handled during network traffic processing. When packets are padded to meet minimum frame size requirements, the memory regions allocated for this padding operation are not adequately cleared or initialized. This memory leakage occurs during the packet assembly process where the system prepares frames for transmission, creating a scenario where leftover data from previous packet processing operations can be inadvertently included in the current packet payload. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions prior to the mentioned security patches, indicating a long-standing issue that was not properly addressed in the code implementation. This weakness directly relates to the concept of information disclosure through improper resource handling and memory management practices.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk to network security as it enables remote information disclosure attacks without requiring authentication or complex exploitation techniques. Attackers can leverage this weakness to read memory contents that may contain sensitive data such as cryptographic keys, user credentials, or network configuration details. The impact extends beyond simple data leakage as the exposure of internal system information can facilitate further attacks, including privilege escalation or targeted exploitation of other vulnerabilities. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-248, which addresses improper initialization of resources, and represents a variant of information exposure flaws that can compromise system confidentiality. Network administrators face the challenge of identifying and mitigating this risk across multiple device models and software versions, requiring comprehensive patch management strategies.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability involves applying the appropriate security patches released by Juniper to address the memory initialization issue in the packet processing components. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected SRX series devices to versions containing the fix, which typically includes proper memory clearing operations before packet padding. Network security teams should also implement monitoring procedures to detect any unusual packet patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process requires careful planning to minimize service disruption while ensuring all vulnerable devices are updated. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls can help reduce the potential impact if exploitation occurs, as the vulnerability requires remote access to the affected devices. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management practices in security-critical systems and reinforces the need for comprehensive code review processes to prevent similar issues in future implementations.