CVE-2024-7095 in EOS
Summary
by MITRE • 01/10/2025
On affected platforms running Arista EOS with SNMP configured, if “snmp-server transmit max-size” is configured, under some circumstances a specially crafted packet can cause the snmpd process to leak memory. This may result in the snmpd process being terminated (causing SNMP requests to time out until snmpd is restarted) and memory pressure for other processes on the switch. Increased memory pressure can cause processes other than snmpd to be at risk for unexpected termination as well.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-7095 affects Arista EOS operating systems where SNMP functionality is enabled and configured with the "snmp-server transmit max-size" parameter. This issue represents a memory leak condition within the snmpd process that operates as part of the SNMP service stack on Arista switches. The flaw manifests when specific network packets are transmitted to the device, triggering an abnormal memory consumption pattern that can lead to system instability. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise network environments where Arista switches serve as critical infrastructure components for network monitoring and management.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the SNMP processing module of Arista EOS. When the snmp-server transmit max-size configuration is applied, the system expects to handle packets according to defined size parameters. However, under certain conditions, malformed or specially crafted SNMP packets can cause the snmpd process to consume memory without proper cleanup mechanisms. This memory leak occurs during packet processing when the system fails to properly validate or handle the packet size parameters, leading to progressive memory consumption that eventually exhausts available resources. The issue falls under CWE-401: Improper Release of Memory and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004: Endpoint Denial of Service, as it can result in service disruption through resource exhaustion.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-7095 extends beyond simple service interruption, creating cascading effects throughout the network infrastructure. When the snmpd process terminates due to memory exhaustion, SNMP monitoring capabilities become unavailable, causing network administrators to lose visibility into switch operations. This disruption affects network management systems that depend on SNMP for device status monitoring and configuration management. Additionally, the memory pressure imposed on the system affects other critical processes running on the same switch, potentially causing them to terminate unexpectedly and creating further service degradation. The vulnerability particularly impacts network availability and reliability in mission-critical environments where continuous monitoring is essential for network operations and security incident response.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-7095 should prioritize immediate patch application from Arista as the primary solution, as this addresses the root cause in the SNMP processing code. Network administrators should also implement temporary workarounds such as disabling SNMP transmit max-size configuration or limiting SNMP access through firewall rules to reduce exposure. Monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect unusual memory consumption patterns in snmpd processes and alert administrators to potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and resource management in network infrastructure software, particularly for services that handle external network traffic. Organizations should also review their network access control policies to limit SNMP traffic to trusted management stations and implement network segmentation to contain potential exploitation impacts. Regular security assessments of network infrastructure devices should include verification of SNMP configuration parameters and monitoring for signs of memory leak conditions.