Line-card reset via firmware-statistics TOCTOU race
Published Jan 15, 2026 · Updated Jan 15, 2026
TOCTOU race in Junos OS on MX10k Series allows local users to reset LC480 or LC2101 line cards through a firmware-status command. Juniper identifies the flaw in the FPC Ethernet firmware-statistics collection method but has not disclosed the checked resource or stale-use operation. Low-privileged CLI access is sufficient; chassisd can later crash and restart with a core dump, extending the service interruption beyond the line card.
Summary
What happened
TOCTOU race in Junos OS on MX10k Series allows local users to reset LC480 or LC2101 line cards through a firmware-status command. Juniper identifies the flaw in the FPC Ethernet firmware-statistics collection method but has not disclosed the checked resource or stale-use operation. Low-privileged CLI access is sufficient; chassisd can later crash and restart with a core dump, extending the service interruption beyond the line card.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-21912
- Published
- Jan 15, 2026
- Updated
- Jan 15, 2026
- Vendor
- Juniper Networks
- Product
- Junos OS
- Classifications
- CWE-367, CAPEC-29, T1499.004
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jan 15, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jan 15, 2026Record 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.
- Affected versionversion=0 <21.2R3-S10
- Affected versionversion=21.4 <21.4R3-S9
- Affected versionversion=22.2 <22.2R3-S7
- Affected versionversion=22.4 <22.4R3-S6
- Affected versionversion=23.2 <23.2R2-S2
- Affected versionversion=23.4 <23.4R2-S3
- Affected versionversion=24.2 <24.2R2
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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