CVE-2015-5357 in Junos
Summary
by MITRE
The Juniper EX4600, QFX3500, QFX3600, and QFX5100 switches with Junos 13.2X51-D15 through 13.2X51-D25, 13.2X51 before 13.2X51-D30, and 14.1X53 before 14.1X53-D10 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption) via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/03/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-5357 affects Juniper Networks EX4600, QFX3500, QFX3600, and QFX5100 switches running specific versions of the Junos operating system. This issue represents a significant security concern as it enables remote attackers to execute a denial of service attack that consumes excessive CPU resources on affected network devices. The vulnerability impacts multiple hardware platforms within Juniper's EX and QFX series, making it particularly concerning for enterprise network infrastructure. The affected Junos versions include 13.2X51-D15 through 13.2X51-D25, 13.2X51 before 13.2X51-D30, and 14.1X53 before 14.1X53-D10, indicating a specific range of software releases that contain the flaw. This vulnerability falls under the category of resource exhaustion attacks that can severely impact network availability and operational continuity.
The technical flaw in CVE-2015-5357 manifests as a condition where unspecified vectors allow remote attackers to cause sustained CPU consumption on the affected switches. While the exact technical mechanisms are not detailed in the CVE description, such vulnerabilities typically involve either malformed packet processing, improper state management, or inefficient resource handling within the network device's operating system. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple attack pathways may exist, potentially including crafted network traffic, specific configuration parameters, or protocol handling anomalies. The vulnerability operates at the network layer where the switch processes incoming packets or management communications, leading to excessive CPU utilization that can render the device unresponsive or significantly degraded in performance.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-5357 extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can compromise the entire network infrastructure that relies on these switches for routing and forwarding functions. When CPU consumption reaches critical levels, the affected switches may become unresponsive to legitimate traffic, leading to network outages that can affect thousands of connected devices and users. This type of denial of service attack can be particularly devastating in enterprise environments where network availability is critical for business operations, potentially causing financial losses, service interruptions, and operational disruptions. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it without physical access to the network equipment, making it a serious concern for network security professionals who must protect against external threats.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-5357 should focus on immediate software updates and patches provided by Juniper to address the specific CPU consumption issue. Organizations should prioritize updating their affected switches to the latest Junos versions that contain fixes for this vulnerability, particularly versions 13.2X51-D30 and 14.1X53-D10 or later. Network administrators should also implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual CPU utilization patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additional defensive measures include implementing network segmentation, rate limiting, and access control lists to limit potential attack vectors. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which addresses "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption" and represents a common pattern in network device security where improper resource handling leads to system compromise. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004, "Endpoint Denial of Service" and potentially T1595.001, "Network Denial of Service", highlighting the threat actor capabilities to disrupt network operations through resource exhaustion techniques.