Junos OS: Use of Uninitialized Resource
CVE-2023-28967 is a high-severity use of uninitialized resource vulnerability in Junos OS from Juniper Networks, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 21.1*, 21.2*, 21.3* as the first without the flaw, so updating Junos OS to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.62% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 50% of scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Junos OS to 21.1* or 21.2* or 21.3* or 21.4R3, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Junos OS Evolved to 21.1-EVO* or 21.4R3-EVO or 22.1R3-EVO or 22.2R2-EVO, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Read the advisory on supportportal.juniper.net for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Juniper Networks | Junos OS | 21.1R1 up to, but not including, 21.1*; 21.2R1 up to, but not including, 21.2*; 21.3R1 up to, but not including, 21.3*; 21.4 up to, but not including, 21.4R3; 22.1 up to, but not including, 22.1R3; 22.2 up to, but not including, 22.2R2 | 21.1*, 21.2*, 21.3*, 21.4R3, 22.1R3, 22.2R2 |
| Juniper Networks | Junos OS Evolved | 21.1R1-EVO up to, but not including, 21.1-EVO*; 21.4-EVO up to, but not including, 21.4R3-EVO; 22.1-EVO up to, but not including, 22.1R3-EVO; 22.2-EVO up to, but not including, 22.2R2-EVO | 21.1-EVO*, 21.4R3-EVO, 22.1R3-EVO, 22.2R2-EVO |
| Juniper Networks | Junos | 21.1; 21.2; 21.3; 21.4; 22.1; 22.2 | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- NoneNo data is disclosed.
- Integrity
- NoneNothing can be modified.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H. Scored by CNA (juniper.net).
Official description
A Use of Uninitialized Resource vulnerability in the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) software of Juniper Networks Junos OS and Junos OS Evolved allows an unauthenticated network-based attacker to send specific genuine BGP packets to a device configured with BGP to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) by crashing the Routing Protocol Daemon (rpd). This issue is triggered when the packets attempt to initiate a BGP connection before a BGP session is successfully established. Continued receipt of these specific BGP packets will cause a sustained Denial of Service condition. This issue is triggerable in both iBGP and eBGP deployments. This issue affects: Juniper Networks Junos OS 21.1 version 21.1R1 and later versions prior to 21.1R3-S5; 21.2 version 21.2R1 and later versions prior to 21.2R3-S2; 21.3 version 21.3R1 and later versions prior to 21.3R3-S2; 21.4 versions prior to 21.4R3; 22.1 versions prior to 22.1R3; 22.2 versions prior to 22.2R2. This issue does not affect Juniper Networks Junos OS versions prior to 21.1R1. This issue affects: Juniper Networks Junos OS Evolved 21.1-EVO version 21.1R1-EVO and later versions prior to 21.4R3-EVO; 22.1-EVO versions prior to 22.1R3-EVO; 22.2-EVO versions prior to 22.2R2-EVO. This issue does not affect Juniper Networks Junos OS Evolved versions prior to 21.1R1-EVO.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Use of Uninitialized Resource
The product uses or accesses a resource that has not been initialized.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Explicitly initialize the resource before use. If this is performed through an API function or standard procedure, follow all required steps.
- Pay close attention to complex conditionals that affect initialization, since some branches might not perform the initialization.
- Avoid race conditions (CWE-362) during initialization routines.
More Use of Uninitialized Resource vulnerabilities (CWE-908)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
Other vulnerabilities in Junos OS
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
Recent Use of Uninitialized Resource vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
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