CVE-2023-44176 in Junos OS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
A Stack-based Buffer Overflow vulnerability in the CLI command of Juniper Networks Junos OS allows a low privileged attacker to execute a specific CLI commands leading to Denial of Service.
Repeated actions by the attacker will create a sustained Denial of Service (DoS) condition.
This issue affects Juniper Networks:
Junos OS:
* All versions prior to 20.4R3-S8; * 21.2 versions prior to 21.2R3-S6; * 21.3 versions prior to 21.3R3-S5; * 22.1 versions prior to 22.1R3-S3; * 22.3 versions prior to 22.3R3; * 22.4 versions prior to 22.4R3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/25/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2023-44176 represents a stack-based buffer overflow within the command line interface of Juniper Networks Junos OS, a critical security flaw that enables low privileged attackers to induce denial of service conditions through specific CLI command execution. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the CLI processing components of the operating system, creating a scenario where maliciously crafted input can overwrite adjacent memory locations on the stack. The vulnerability manifests when legitimate CLI commands are processed through functions that fail to properly bounds-check user-supplied data before copying it into fixed-size buffer structures, leading to memory corruption that can result in application crashes or system instability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of improper stack frame management during CLI command processing, where attacker-controlled input can exceed the allocated buffer space and overwrite return addresses, function pointers, or other critical stack variables. This type of flaw maps directly to CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is classified under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as a fundamental memory safety issue. The attack vector requires minimal privileges and can be executed through standard CLI sessions, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users have access to the device management interfaces. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that repeated exploitation attempts can maintain sustained denial of service conditions, effectively rendering the device unusable for legitimate administrative functions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to network infrastructure reliability and availability, particularly in enterprise environments where Junos OS devices serve as critical network gateways and routers. The sustained denial of service condition can disrupt network operations, potentially affecting business continuity and requiring immediate remediation efforts. Network administrators may find their management interfaces become unresponsive, forcing them to rely on alternative access methods such as console connections or out-of-band management systems. The vulnerability affects multiple version branches of Junos OS, indicating a widespread exposure across the Juniper customer base, with specific release thresholds providing clear upgrade paths for remediation. Organizations must prioritize patch management efforts to address this vulnerability, as the low privilege requirements and remote exploitability make it particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to disrupt network operations.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2023-44176 involves immediate deployment of patched versions of Junos OS, with security teams implementing a comprehensive rollout schedule across their network infrastructure. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring and logging controls to detect potential exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on anomalous CLI command patterns that might indicate buffer overflow attempts. Network segmentation and access control measures should be reviewed to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current security patches and implementing robust input validation controls throughout network infrastructure components, aligning with ATT&CK framework techniques related to privilege escalation and denial of service operations. Security teams should also conduct vulnerability assessments to identify any other potentially affected systems within their environment that might share similar architectural weaknesses, ensuring comprehensive protection against similar attack vectors.