CVE-2023-28959

Packet-forwarding interruption via malformed local packets

Published Apr 17, 2023 · Updated Mar 3, 2025

Improper exception handling in Junos OS on QFX10002 allows attackers on the local broadcast domain to restart forwarding engines. Packet processing accepts a specific malformed packet and attempts an out-of-range VOQ enqueue in 192K-VOQ mode, wedging every PFE except the inbound PFE. Transit traffic cannot trigger the flaw, while continued delivery to the device sustains the service interruption.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.30%
Next 30 days · Sep 17, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper exception handling in Junos OS on QFX10002 allows attackers on the local broadcast domain to restart forwarding engines. Packet processing accepts a specific malformed packet and attempts an out-of-range VOQ enqueue in 192K-VOQ mode, wedging every PFE except the inbound PFE. Transit traffic cannot trigger the flaw, while continued delivery to the device sustains the service interruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-28959
Published
Apr 17, 2023
Updated
Mar 3, 2025
Vendor
Juniper Networks
Product
Junos OS
Classifications
CWE-703, T1499
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 17, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 3, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=19.4 <19.4R3-S11
  2. Affected versionversion=20.2 <20.2R3-S7
  3. Affected versionversion=20.4 <20.4R3-S6
  4. Affected versionversion=21.1 <21.1R3-S4
  5. Affected versionversion=21.2 <21.2R3-S4
  6. Affected versionversion=21.3 <21.3R3-S3
  7. Affected versionversion=21.4 <21.4R3-S2
  8. Affected versionversion=22.1 <22.1R3-S1
  9. Affected versionversion=22.2 <22.2R2-S1, 22.2R3
  10. Affected versionversion=22.3 <22.3R1-S2, 22.3R2
  11. Affected versionversion=unspecified <19.1R3-S10

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Juniper Networks · Junos OSversion=19.4 <19.4R3-S11; version=20.2 <20.2R3-S7; version=20.4 <20.4R3-S6; version=21.1 <21.1R3-S4; version=21.2 <21.2R3-S4; version=21.3 <21.3R3-S3; version=21.4 <21.4R3-S2; version=22.1 <22.1R3-S1; version=22.2 <22.2R2-S1, 22.2R3; version=22.3 <22.3R1-S2, 22.3R2; version=unspecified <19.1R3-S10

Published CVSS scores

6.5Juniper NetworksCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectoradjacent
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-703Improper Check or Handling of Exceptional Conditions
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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