CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2024-39548NVD status: Analyzed

Junos OS Evolved: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption

CVE-2024-39548 is a high-severity uncontrolled resource consumption vulnerability in Junos OS Evolved 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 21.2R3-S8-EVO, 21.3R3-S5-EVO, 21.4R3-S5-EVO as the first without the flaw, so updating Junos OS Evolved to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.49% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update Junos OS Evolved to 21.2R3-S8-EVO or 21.3R3-S5-EVO or 21.4R3-S5-EVO or 22.1R3-S4-EVO, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  2. Read the advisory on supportportal.juniper.net for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
  3. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Juniper NetworksJunos OS Evolvedbefore 21.2R3-S8-EVO; 21.3 up to, but not including, 21.3R3-S5-EVO; 21.4 up to, but not including, 21.4R3-S5-EVO; 22.1 up to, but not including, 22.1R3-S4-EVO; 22.2 up to, but not including, 22.2R3-S4; 22.3 up to, but not including, 22.3R3-S3-EVO; 22.4 up to, but not including, 22.4R2-S2-EVO, 22.4R3-EVO; 23.2 up to, but not including, 23.2R1-S1-EVO, 23.2R2-EVO; and 4 more ranges21.2R3-S8-EVO, 21.3R3-S5-EVO, 21.4R3-S5-EVO, 22.1R3-S4-EVO, 22.2R3-S4, 22.3R3-S3-EVO

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).

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 4.07.1HighCNA (juniper.net)
CVSS 3.17.5HighCNA (juniper.net)

Official description

An Uncontrolled Resource Consumption vulnerability in the aftmand process of Juniper Networks Junos OS Evolved allows an unauthenticated, network-based attacker to consume memory resources, resulting in a Denial of Service (DoS) condition. The processes do not recover on their own and must be manually restarted. This issue affects both IPv4 and IPv6. Changes in memory usage can be monitored using the following CLI command: user@device> show system memory node <fpc slot> | grep evo-aftmann This issue affects Junos OS Evolved: * All versions before 21.2R3-S8-EVO, * 21.3 versions before 21.3R3-S5-EVO, * 21.4 versions before 21.4R3-S5-EVO, * 22.1 versions before 22.1R3-S4-EVO, * 22.2 versions before 22.2R3-S4-EVO, * 22.3 versions before 22.3R3-S3-EVO, * 22.4 versions before 22.4R2-S2-EVO, 22.4R3-EVO, * 23.2 versions before 23.2R1-S1-EVO, 23.2R2-EVO.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Uncontrolled Resource Consumption

The product does not properly control the allocation and maintenance of a limited resource.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Ensure that protocols have specific limits of scale placed on them.
  • Ensure that all failures in resource allocation place the system into a safe posture.

More Uncontrolled Resource Consumption vulnerabilities (CWE-400)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in Junos OS Evolved

All Junos OS Evolved vulnerabilities

Recent Uncontrolled Resource Consumption vulnerabilities

Spotted an error? Tell us.