CVE-2017-2345 in Junos
Summary
by MITRE
On Junos OS devices with SNMP enabled, a network based attacker with unfiltered access to the RE can cause the Junos OS snmpd daemon to crash and restart by sending a crafted SNMP packet. Repeated crashes of the snmpd daemon can result in a partial denial of service condition. Additionally, it may be possible to craft a malicious SNMP packet in a way that can result in remote code execution. SNMP is disabled in Junos OS by default. Junos OS devices with SNMP disabled are not affected by this issue. No other Juniper Networks products or platforms are affected by this issue. NOTE: This is a different issue than Cisco CVE-2017-6736, CVE-2017-6737, and CVE-2017-6738. Affected releases are Juniper Networks Junos OS 12.1X46 prior to 12.1X46-D67; 12.3X48 prior to 12.3X48-D51, 12.3X48-D55; 13.3 prior to 13.3R10-S2; 14.1 prior to 14.1R2-S10, 14.1R8-S4, 14.1R9; 14.1X50 prior to 14.1X50-D185; 14.1X53 prior to 14.1X53-D122, 14.1X53-D44, 14.1X53-D50; 14.2 prior to 14.2R4-S9, 14.2R7-S7, 14.2R8; 15.1 prior to 15.1F2-S18, 15.1F6-S7, 15.1R4-S8, 15.1R5-S5, 15.1R6-S1, 15.1R7; 15.1X49 prior to 15.1X49-D100, 15.1X49-D110; 15.1X53 prior to 15.1X53-D231, 15.1X53-D47, 15.1X53-D48, 15.1X53-D57, 15.1X53-D64, 15.1X53-D70; 16.1 prior to 16.1R3-S4, 16.1R4-S3, 16.1R4-S4, 16.1R5; 16.2 prior to 16.2R2, 16.2R3; 17.1 prior to 17.1R1-S3, 17.1R2, 17.1R3; 17.2 prior to 17.2R1-S1, 17.2R2; 17.2X75 prior to 17.2X75-D30. Junos releases prior to 10.2 are not affected.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/12/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2017-2345 represents a critical security flaw in Junos OS network devices that enables remote code execution and denial of service through the SNMP protocol. This issue specifically targets the snmpd daemon running on Junos OS devices with SNMP enabled, creating a pathway for attackers to exploit the system through crafted SNMP packets. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic buffer overflow condition that occurs when the daemon processes malformed SNMP requests, leading to system instability and potential complete compromise of the device. According to the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, this vulnerability maps to CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions that can result in arbitrary code execution, and CWE-122, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow scenarios that may lead to similar consequences.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker sends specially crafted SNMP packets to a Junos OS device with SNMP enabled and accessible from the RE (Routing Engine). The snmpd daemon fails to properly validate input parameters in the SNMP requests, allowing malicious data to overwrite memory regions and potentially execute arbitrary code on the device. This represents a sophisticated attack vector that leverages the SNMP protocol's inherent design characteristics to bypass normal security controls. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple denial of service since repeated exploitation can lead to persistent system instability, while the remote code execution capability provides attackers with full control over the affected network device. The attack surface is particularly concerning because SNMP is often enabled for network monitoring purposes, making it accessible to various network entities that may not be properly secured.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2345 is severe for organizations relying on Junos OS devices, as it creates both immediate availability risks and long-term security threats. Network administrators face the challenge of maintaining service availability while addressing a vulnerability that can be exploited remotely without authentication, potentially allowing attackers to gain complete control over network infrastructure. The partial denial of service condition that results from repeated daemon crashes can disrupt network monitoring and management functions, affecting network visibility and operational capabilities. Organizations may experience cascading failures as compromised devices can no longer properly communicate with management systems, potentially leading to extended outages and increased operational costs. The vulnerability also creates a persistent security risk where attackers can establish persistent access to network infrastructure, enabling them to monitor traffic, redirect packets, or perform other malicious activities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2345 focus on both immediate defensive measures and long-term remediation approaches. The most effective immediate solution is to disable SNMP on affected Junos OS devices unless absolutely required for network management purposes, as SNMP is disabled by default in these systems. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to restrict access to SNMP ports (typically UDP 161) to only trusted management systems and network monitoring tools. Network administrators should apply the vendor-provided security patches and firmware updates that address the specific buffer overflow conditions in the snmpd daemon. Additionally, implementing network access control lists and firewall rules to restrict SNMP access can significantly reduce the attack surface. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, emphasizing the need for comprehensive network defense strategies. Regular vulnerability assessments and security monitoring should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts, while maintaining up-to-date network baselines helps identify abnormal SNMP traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.