CVE-2024-30398 in Junos OS
Summary
by MITRE • 04/12/2024
An Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer vulnerability in the Packet Forwarding Engine (PFE) of Juniper Networks Junos OS allows an unauthenticated, network-based attacker to cause a Denial of Service (DoS).
When a high amount of specific traffic is received on a SRX4600 device, due to an error in internal packet handling, a consistent rise in CPU memory utilization occurs. This results in packet drops in the traffic and eventually the PFE crashes. A manual reboot of the PFE will be required to restore the device to original state.
This issue affects Junos OS: 21.2 before 21.2R3-S7, 21.4 before 21.4R3-S6, 22.1 before 22.1R3-S5, 22.2 before 22.2R3-S3, 22.3 before 22.3R3-S2, 22.4 before 22.4R3, 23.2 before 23.2R1-S2, 23.2R2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/07/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical memory buffer management flaw within the Packet Forwarding Engine of Juniper Networks SRX4600 devices running specific versions of Junos OS. The issue stems from improper restriction of operations within memory buffer boundaries, creating a condition where malformed or specifically crafted network traffic can trigger excessive CPU memory utilization. This vulnerability falls under CWE-129, which addresses improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks. The flaw manifests when the PFE receives a high volume of specific traffic patterns that exploit internal packet handling mechanisms, leading to memory exhaustion and subsequent system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass complete system compromise through deliberate resource exhaustion. Attackers can exploit this weakness without authentication, making it particularly dangerous in network environments where unauthorized access is possible. The memory utilization spike occurs during normal packet processing operations, meaning legitimate traffic can be disrupted while the device becomes unresponsive. This creates a cascading effect where network performance degrades significantly before complete system failure occurs, potentially affecting critical network infrastructure and business operations. The requirement for manual PFE reboot indicates that automatic recovery mechanisms are insufficient, adding to the operational burden during attack scenarios.
The vulnerability affects multiple release branches of Junos OS, spanning from version 21.2 through 23.2, with specific service pack requirements for each version range. This widespread impact across the software lifecycle demonstrates the persistence of memory management flaws in complex network operating systems. The attack vector is network-based and does not require authentication credentials, making it accessible to any attacker with network access to the affected device. The specific traffic patterns that trigger this vulnerability likely involve packet structures that cause the PFE to allocate excessive memory resources during processing, eventually leading to the kernel memory exhaustion that causes the crash. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of broader network denial of service attack strategies that target infrastructure components to create maximum operational disruption.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected devices to the latest supported service pack versions. Network administrators should implement traffic filtering rules to limit incoming traffic patterns that may trigger the vulnerability, particularly focusing on unusual packet sizes or protocols that could exploit the buffer handling mechanisms. Monitoring should include continuous CPU and memory utilization tracking for affected devices to detect early signs of the memory exhaustion condition. The implementation of intrusion detection systems that can identify and block malicious traffic patterns associated with this vulnerability provides an additional layer of defense. Organizations should also establish incident response procedures that include automated alerting when memory utilization exceeds predetermined thresholds, enabling rapid response to potential exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability assessments and network segmentation strategies can help reduce the attack surface and limit the impact of successful exploitation attempts.