CVE-2023-44175 in Junos OS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
A Reachable Assertion vulnerability in the routing protocol daemon (rpd) of Juniper Networks Junos OS and Junos OS Evolved allows to send specific genuine PIM packets to the device resulting in rpd to crash causing a Denial of Service (DoS).
Continued receipt and processing of this packet will create a sustained Denial of Service (DoS) condition.
Note: This issue is not noticed when all the devices in the network are Juniper devices.
This issue affects Juniper Networks:
Junos OS:
* All versions prior to 20.4R3-S7; * 21.2 versions prior to 21.2R3-S5; * 21.3 versions prior to 21.3R3-S4; * 21.4 versions prior to 21.4R3-S4; * 22.1 versions prior to 22.1R3-S4; * 22.2 versions prior to 22.2R3; * 22.3 versions prior to 22.3R3; * 22.4 versions prior to 22.4R3.
Junos OS Evolved:
* All versions prior to 22.3R3-EVO; * 22.4-EVO versions prior to 22.4R3-EVO; * 23.2-EVO versions prior to 23.2R1-EVO.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/31/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-44175 represents a reachable assertion flaw within the routing protocol daemon rpd of Juniper Networks Junos OS and Junos OS Evolved platforms. This issue manifests when specific genuine Protocol Independent Multicast PIM packets are transmitted to affected devices, causing the rpd process to crash and subsequently resulting in a denial of service condition. The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and error handling within the packet processing logic of the routing daemon, creating a scenario where legitimate network traffic can be weaponized to disrupt routing operations. The assertion failure occurs during the normal processing of PIM packets, indicating a fundamental weakness in the daemon's ability to gracefully handle unexpected packet structures or states.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as continued receipt and processing of the malicious packets can maintain a sustained denial of service condition that affects network routing functionality. This vulnerability particularly affects network infrastructure by compromising the stability of routing protocols, which are critical for maintaining network connectivity and data flow. The daemon crash affects not just individual device operations but can potentially cascade through network topology, especially in environments where multiple routing devices rely on PIM for multicast traffic management. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic weakness in software robustness where normal network operations can be leveraged to create persistent service interruptions, making it particularly concerning for mission-critical network infrastructures.
The affected versions span multiple release lines of both Junos OS and Junos OS Evolved, indicating this is a long-standing issue that has persisted across several major releases. The vulnerability is specifically mitigated when all devices in the network are running Juniper equipment, suggesting that the issue arises from inter-device communication where non-Juniper devices may send malformed PIM packets that trigger the assertion failure. This characteristic aligns with CWE-617, which addresses reachable assertions in software systems, and demonstrates how improper error handling can create exploitable conditions. The vulnerability's impact is further characterized by its potential to be leveraged by attackers who might intentionally send crafted PIM packets to disrupt network operations, representing a clear violation of system availability principles.
Network administrators should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant software patches provided by Juniper, which address the assertion failure in the rpd daemon. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of network segmentation and access control measures to prevent unauthorized devices from injecting traffic that could trigger such conditions. Organizations should consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect unusual PIM packet patterns and potential DoS attack signatures. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patched versions in non-production environments to ensure no regression in routing functionality. Additionally, network security teams should review their incident response procedures to address potential DoS conditions caused by routing protocol daemon failures, as this vulnerability represents a specific attack vector that can be systematically exploited.
From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to the T1499.004 technique related to network disruption, specifically targeting network infrastructure components through protocol manipulation. The issue demonstrates how network protocol implementations can be targeted for availability attacks, making it relevant to the broader category of network service disruption techniques. Organizations should consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify and block suspicious PIM packet patterns, particularly those that might trigger assertion failures in routing daemons. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation, as highlighted in industry standards that emphasize the need for robust error handling in network protocol implementations.