CVE-2018-0054 in Junos
Summary
by MITRE
On QFX5000 Series and EX4600 switches, a high rate of Ethernet pause frames or an ARP packet storm received on the management interface (fxp0) can cause egress interface congestion, resulting in routing protocol packet drops, such as BGP, leading to peering flaps. The following log message may also be displayed: fpc0 dcbcm_check_stuck_buffers: Buffers are stuck on queue 7 of port 45 This issue only affects the QFX5000 Series products (QFX5100, QFX5110, QFX5200, QFX5210) and the EX4600 switch. No other platforms are affected by this issue. Affected releases are Juniper Networks Junos OS: 14.1X53 versions prior to 14.1X53-D47 on QFX5000 Series and EX4600; 15.1 versions prior to 15.1R7, 15.1R8 on QFX5000 Series and EX4600; 15.1X53 versions prior to 15.1X53-D233 on QFX5000 Series and EX4600; 16.1 versions prior to 16.1R7 on QFX5000 Series and EX4600; 16.2 versions prior to 16.2R3 on QFX5000 Series and EX4600; 17.1 versions prior to 17.1R2-S9, 17.1R3 on QFX5000 Series and EX4600; 17.2 versions prior to 17.2R2-S6, 17.2R3 on QFX5000 Series and EX4600; 17.2X75 versions prior to 17.2X75-D42 on QFX5000 Series and EX4600; 17.3 versions prior to 17.3R3 on QFX5000 Series and EX4600; 17.4 versions prior to 17.4R2 on QFX5000 Series and EX4600; 18.1 versions prior to 18.1R2 on QFX5000 Series and EX4600.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/25/2023
This vulnerability represents a critical network infrastructure issue affecting Juniper QFX5000 Series and EX4600 switches where excessive Ethernet pause frames or ARP packet storms on the management interface can lead to severe routing protocol disruptions. The flaw manifests when high-volume traffic conditions cause egress interface congestion, specifically impacting BGP routing protocol operations and resulting in peering flaps that can compromise network stability and availability. The technical root cause lies in the buffer management system of the fabric processing card, as evidenced by the diagnostic message fpc0 dcbcm_check_stuck_buffers indicating that buffers become stuck on queue 7 of port 45, which aligns with CWE-129 Input Validation and CWE-131 Incorrect Calculation categories related to improper buffer handling and resource management.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple performance degradation to potentially catastrophic network instability where routing protocol convergence becomes severely impaired. BGP peering flaps caused by this issue can result in widespread routing instability across the network, affecting connectivity for multiple network segments and potentially causing service disruptions for end users. The vulnerability specifically targets the management interface (fxp0) which serves as the primary point of switch administration and monitoring, making it particularly dangerous as it can compromise both operational capabilities and network routing functions simultaneously. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1498.001 Network Denial of Service and T1566.002 Phishing via Spearphishing Attachment, as it can be exploited to create network outages or be part of broader attack campaigns targeting network infrastructure.
The affected platforms include specific QFX5000 Series models including QFX5100, QFX5110, QFX5200, and QFX5210, along with EX4600 switches, while other Juniper platforms remain unaffected. This targeted scope suggests the vulnerability is specific to certain hardware architectures and software versions within Juniper's product line, particularly those utilizing the fabric processing card management system. The vulnerability affects multiple software release lines including versions 14.1X53, 15.1, 15.1X53, 16.1, 16.2, 17.1, 17.2, 17.2X75, 17.3, 17.4, and 18.1, indicating a long-standing issue that spans multiple major software releases and versions. Network administrators should note that the issue is particularly concerning for high-traffic environments where management interface congestion could be more easily triggered by legitimate network conditions or malicious traffic patterns, making it a significant concern for network security and operational resilience planning.
Mitigation strategies should include implementing rate limiting on management interface traffic, deploying network monitoring solutions to detect unusual pause frame or ARP storm patterns, and applying the relevant software patches provided by Juniper to address the buffer management issues. Organizations should also consider network segmentation to isolate management traffic and implement proper traffic shaping policies to prevent the conditions that trigger the vulnerability. The recommended approach involves upgrading to patched software versions for all affected releases, with particular attention to the specific version requirements listed in the vulnerability description. Additionally, implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on abnormal traffic patterns on management interfaces can provide early warning of potential exploitation attempts.