CVE-2016-1263 in Junos
Summary
by MITRE
Juniper Junos OS before 12.1X46-D45, 12.1X46-D50, 12.1X47 before 12.1X47-D35, 12.3X48 before 12.3X48-D30, 13.3 before 13.3R9-S1, 14.1 before 14.1R7, 14.2 before 14.2R6, 15.1 before 15.1F2-S5, 15.1F4 before 15.1F4-S2, 15.1R before 15.1R2-S3, 15.1 before 15.1R3, and 15.1X49 before 15.1X49-D40 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (kernel crash) via a crafted UDP packet destined to the interface IP address of a 64-bit OS device.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/02/2022
This vulnerability affects Juniper Junos OS versions prior to specific release thresholds across multiple software branches including 12.1X46, 12.3X48, 13.3, 14.1, 14.2, and 15.1 series. The flaw resides in the kernel processing of UDP packets and represents a classic denial of service condition that can be exploited remotely by sending specially crafted UDP packets to the interface IP address of affected 64-bit operating system devices. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-121 which deals with stack-based buffer overflows, though the specific implementation manifests as a kernel crash rather than traditional memory corruption. This issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1498 which covers network denial of service attacks.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves the kernel's handling of malformed UDP packets that trigger an improper memory access pattern when processing packets destined for the device's interface IP address. When such packets are received, the kernel executes code paths that lead to a segmentation fault or similar critical error condition causing the kernel to crash and restart the device. This behavior occurs specifically on 64-bit operating system implementations where the memory management and packet processing routines differ from 32-bit variants. The vulnerability does not require authentication or special privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as any remote attacker can potentially trigger the condition.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it can result in complete device unavailability for extended periods during kernel restart cycles. Network infrastructure devices running affected Junos OS versions become unreliable and can cause cascading failures in network topology when multiple devices are compromised. The vulnerability affects critical network infrastructure components including routers and switches that form the backbone of enterprise and service provider networks. Organizations may experience significant downtime and potential loss of network connectivity during the time required for device recovery and manual intervention. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it can be executed from any network location without requiring network access to the device itself, as the packets simply need to reach the device's interface IP address.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate deployment of vendor-supplied patches and firmware updates addressing the specific kernel processing issue. Network administrators should implement network segmentation and access control measures to limit potential attack surface and reduce exposure windows. Monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual traffic patterns or kernel crash events that may indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of rate limiting and packet filtering rules can provide additional protection by limiting the volume of UDP traffic processed by affected devices. Organizations should also consider implementing redundant network paths and failover mechanisms to maintain service availability during potential exploitation events. Regular vulnerability assessments and network scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate other potential vulnerabilities in the Junos OS environment. Compliance with industry standards such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 security controls should be maintained to ensure proper security posture and incident response capabilities are in place for handling such vulnerabilities.