Junos OS: Unchecked Return Value
CVE-2023-44182 is a high-severity unchecked return value vulnerability in Junos OS from Juniper Networks, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 20.4R3-S7, 21.1R3-S5, 21.2R3-S5 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 0.7% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 54% of scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Junos OS to 20.4R3-S7 or 21.1R3-S5 or 21.2R3-S5 or 21.3R3-S4, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Junos OS Evolved to 21.4R3-S3-EVO or 22.1*-EVO or 22.2R2-S2-EVO, 22.2R3-EVO or 22.3R1-S2-EVO, 22.3R2-EVO, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Junos to 20.4 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on supportportal.juniper.net for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Juniper Networks | Junos OS | before 20.4R3-S7; 21.1 up to, but not including, 21.1R3-S5; 21.2 up to, but not including, 21.2R3-S5; 21.3 up to, but not including, 21.3R3-S4; 21.4 up to, but not including, 21.4R3-S3; 22.1 up to, but not including, 22.1R3-S2; 22.2 up to, but not including, 22.2R2-S2, 22.2R3; 22.3 up to, but not including, 22.3R1-S2, 22.3R2 | 20.4R3-S7, 21.1R3-S5, 21.2R3-S5, 21.3R3-S4, 21.4R3-S3, 22.1R3-S2 |
| Juniper Networks | Junos OS Evolved | before 21.4R3-S3-EVO; 22.1R1-EVO up to, but not including, 22.1*-EVO; 22.2-EVO up to, but not including, 22.2R2-S2-EVO, 22.2R3-EVO; 22.3-EVO up to, but not including, 22.3R1-S2-EVO, 22.3R2-EVO | 21.4R3-S3-EVO, 22.1*-EVO, 22.2R2-S2-EVO, 22.2R3-EVO, 22.3R1-S2-EVO, 22.3R2-EVO |
| Juniper Networks | Junos | before 20.4; 20.4; 21.1; 21.2; 21.3; 21.4; 22.1; 22.2; and 1 more ranges | 20.4 |
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
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.3 | High | CNA (juniper.net) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.8 | High | NVD |
Official description
An Unchecked Return Value vulnerability in the user interfaces to the Juniper Networks Junos OS and Junos OS Evolved, the CLI, the XML API, the XML Management Protocol, the NETCONF Management Protocol, the gNMI interfaces, and the J-Web User Interfaces causes unintended effects such as demotion or elevation of privileges associated with an operators actions to occur. Multiple scenarios may occur; for example: privilege escalation over the device or another account, access to files that should not otherwise be accessible, files not being accessible where they should be accessible, code expected to run as non-root may run as root, and so forth. This issue affects: Juniper Networks Junos OS * All versions prior to 20.4R3-S7; * 21.1 versions prior to 21.1R3-S5; * 21.2 versions prior to 21.2R3-S5; * 21.3 versions prior to 21.3R3-S4; * 21.4 versions prior to 21.4R3-S3; * 22.1 versions prior to 22.1R3-S2; * 22.2 versions prior to 22.2R2-S2, 22.2R3; * 22.3 versions prior to 22.3R1-S2, 22.3R2. Juniper Networks Junos OS Evolved * All versions prior to 21.4R3-S3-EVO; * 22.1-EVO version 22.1R1-EVO and later versions prior to 22.2R2-S2-EVO, 22.2R3-EVO; * 22.3-EVO versions prior to 22.3R1-S2-EVO, 22.3R2-EVO.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Unchecked Return Value
The product does not check the return value from a method or function.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Check the results of all functions that return a value and verify that the value is expected.
- For any pointers that could have been modified or provided from a function that can return NULL, check the pointer for NULL before use. When working with a multithreaded or otherwise asynchronous environment, ensure that proper locking APIs are used to lock before the check, and unlock when it has finished.
- Ensure that you account for all possible return values from the function.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
Other references
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 Unchecked Return Value vulnerabilities
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
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