CVE-2018-0060 in Junos
Summary
by MITRE
An improper input validation weakness in the device control daemon process (dcd) of Juniper Networks Junos OS allows an attacker to cause a Denial of Service to the dcd process and interfaces and connected clients when the Junos device is requesting an IP address for itself. Junos devices are not vulnerable to this issue when not configured to use DHCP. Affected releases are Juniper Networks Junos OS: 12.1X46 versions prior to 12.1X46-D40 on SRX Series; 12.3X48 versions prior to 12.3X48-D20 on SRX Series; 14.1X53 versions prior to 14.1X53-D40 on EX2200/VC, EX3200, EX3300/VC, EX4200, EX4300, EX4550/VC, EX4600, EX6200, EX8200/VC (XRE), QFX3500, QFX3600, QFX5100; 15.1X49 versions prior to 15.1X49-D20 on SRX Series; 15.1X53 versions prior to 15.1X53-D68 on QFX10000 Series; 15.1X53 versions prior to 15.1X53-D235 on QFX5200/QFX5110; 15.1X53 versions prior to 15.1X53-D495 on NFX150, NFX250; 15.1X53 versions prior to 15.1X53-D590 on EX2300/EX3400; 15.1 versions prior to 15.1R7-S2 ; 16.1 versions prior to 15.1R7-S2 16.1R4-S12, 16.1R6-S5, 16.1R7-S2; 16.2 versions prior to 16.2R2-S7; 17.1 versions prior to 17.1R2-S9; 17.2 versions prior to 17.2R1-S7, 17.2R2-S4; 17.3 versions prior to 17.3R2-S4, 17.3R3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/25/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-0060 represents a critical input validation flaw within the device control daemon process of Juniper Networks Junos OS operating systems. This weakness specifically affects the dcd component responsible for managing device control functions and interface operations. The vulnerability manifests when Junos devices attempt to obtain IP addresses through DHCP requests, creating a scenario where malicious actors can exploit improper input validation to trigger denial of service conditions. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-20, Improper Input Validation, which classifies this as a fundamental security weakness allowing attackers to manipulate input data in ways that compromise system stability and availability. The vulnerability exists in multiple Junos OS versions across various hardware platforms including SRX Series firewalls, EX Series switches, QFX Series switches, and NFX Series routers, making it a widespread concern across Juniper's product portfolio.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the device control daemon's handling of DHCP requests, where insufficient validation of incoming data allows crafted malformed inputs to cause the dcd process to crash or become unresponsive. When a Junos device configured for DHCP operation attempts to request an IP address from a DHCP server, the input validation mechanism fails to properly sanitize or verify the DHCP response data. This failure results in the daemon process encountering unexpected input that triggers a termination or hang condition, thereby disrupting network connectivity for interfaces and connected clients. The operational impact extends beyond individual device functionality to encompass entire network segments that depend on these devices for routing, switching, or security functions. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require authentication or specialized privileges, making it particularly dangerous as any network-accessible attacker could potentially trigger the denial of service condition, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1499.002 for Network Denial of Service.
The affected platforms span multiple Junos OS release lines including 12.x, 15.x, 16.x, 17.x versions, with specific patch levels identified for remediation across different hardware series. Devices not configured to use DHCP are immune to this vulnerability, which provides a temporary mitigation strategy for organizations that can control their network configuration. The vulnerability affects both physical and virtualized environments, including EX2200/VC, EX3200, EX3300/VC, EX4200, EX4300, EX4550/VC, EX4600, EX6200, EX8200/VC, QFX3500, QFX3600, QFX5100, QFX10000 Series, QFX5200/QFX5110, NFX150, NFX250, and EX2300/EX3400 platforms. The remediation approach requires applying specific software patches to each affected version, with patch levels specified for each hardware series. Organizations should prioritize patching operations, particularly for critical infrastructure devices, as the vulnerability directly impacts network availability and can potentially be exploited to disrupt business operations. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of input validation in network control processes and demonstrates how seemingly minor validation flaws can result in significant operational impacts, particularly in enterprise and service provider environments where network uptime is critical for business continuity.