CVE-2026-102175 in Junos OS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/14/2026
A Heap-based Buffer Overflow vulnerability in the sdxd service-deployment daemon of Juniper Networks Junos OS and Junos OS Evolved allows a remote unauthenticated attacker who can control or intercept the configured SDX/SRC server connection to execute code as root or cause denial of service via a crafted frame received over the service-deployment TCP connection.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/14/2026
The vulnerability identified in this advisory represents a critical security flaw within the Juniper Networks Junos OS and Junos OS Evolved platforms, specifically targeting the sdxd service-deployment daemon. This component is responsible for managing the deployment of services across network infrastructure, facilitating communication between the device and external SDX or SRC servers. The core technical issue is classified as a heap-based buffer overflow, which occurs when data written to a dynamically allocated memory region exceeds its designated boundaries. In this specific context, the flaw is triggered by processing a crafted frame received over the service-deployment TCP connection. Because the sdxd daemon operates with elevated privileges, typically running as root or with similar high-level permissions to manage system configurations and services, successful exploitation of this vulnerability grants an attacker complete control over the underlying operating system.
From an operational perspective, the impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its remote nature and lack of authentication requirements for certain attack vectors involving intercepted connections. An unauthenticated attacker who can position themselves within the network path or otherwise intercept traffic destined for the SDX/SRC server connection can inject malicious payloads. By sending a specifically crafted frame that exploits the buffer overflow, an attacker can overwrite adjacent memory structures on the heap. This corruption allows for arbitrary code execution with root-level privileges, effectively compromising the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of the entire network device. Alternatively, if the exploitation does not lead to code execution but instead causes a crash in the sdxd process or the underlying system, it results in a denial of service condition, disrupting critical network services managed by the daemon.
This vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) category CWE-120, which describes buffer copies without checking size limits, specifically manifesting as heap-based overflow under CWE-787 when involving dynamically allocated memory. In terms of offensive security frameworks, this exploit scenario maps to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1059, Command and Scripting Interpreter, allowing for remote code execution, and potentially T1496, Resource Hijacking if used for denial-of-service purposes. The attack vector leverages the trust relationship inherent in service deployment protocols, highlighting risks associated with unencrypted or improperly authenticated management plane communications.
Mitigation strategies must focus on both immediate remediation and long-term architectural hardening. Juniper Networks has released software updates that patch this heap-based buffer overflow by implementing proper bounds checking for input frames processed by the sdxd daemon. Administrators should immediately apply these vendor-supplied patches to all affected devices running vulnerable versions of Junos OS or Junos OS Evolved. Beyond patching, network segmentation is crucial; service-deployment connections should be restricted to trusted management networks using firewall rules that limit access to authorized SDX/SRC servers only. Additionally, enabling encryption for the service deployment protocol and enforcing mutual authentication can prevent unauthenticated attackers from intercepting or injecting crafted frames into the TCP connection stream. Regular vulnerability scanning and monitoring of network traffic for anomalous patterns related to service-deployment ports will further aid in detecting potential exploitation attempts before they succeed.