CVE-2023-44193

FPC reboot via premature memory release

Published Oct 12, 2023 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

Improper memory release in Junos OS on MX Series allows local users to reboot an FPC by running a specific LDP command. The Packet Forwarding Engine releases memory before removing its last reference while processing the command, leaving referenced memory invalid. The device must use affected MX hardware with CFM enabled in a VPLS configuration; repeated commands sustain the service interruption.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.17%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper memory release in Junos OS on MX Series allows local users to reboot an FPC by running a specific LDP command. The Packet Forwarding Engine releases memory before removing its last reference while processing the command, leaving referenced memory invalid. The device must use affected MX hardware with CFM enabled in a VPLS configuration; repeated commands sustain the service interruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-44193
Published
Oct 12, 2023
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
Juniper Networks
Product
Junos OS
Classifications
CWE-401, T1529
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 12, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 17, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <20.4R3-S7
  2. Affected versionversion=21.1 <21.1R3-S5
  3. Affected versionversion=21.2 <21.2R3-S4
  4. Affected versionversion=21.3 <21.3R3-S4
  5. Affected versionversion=21.4 <21.4R3-S3
  6. Affected versionversion=22.1 <22.1R3-S1
  7. Affected versionversion=22.2 <22.2R2-S1, 22.2R3
  8. Affected versionversion=22.3 <22.3R1-S2, 22.3R2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Juniper Networks · Junos OSversion=0 <20.4R3-S7; version=21.1 <21.1R3-S5; version=21.2 <21.2R3-S4; version=21.3 <21.3R3-S4; version=21.4 <21.4R3-S3; version=22.1 <22.1R3-S1; version=22.2 <22.2R2-S1, 22.2R3; version=22.3 <22.3R1-S2, 22.3R2

Published CVSS scores

5.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.5Juniper NetworksCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/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.

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No observations available

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-401Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime
T1529System Shutdown/Reboot

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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