Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-36842

Juniper Junos ≤ 20.4

Published
12 January 2024
Modified
21 November 2024
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 6.5
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
EPSS Score 0.0029 22th percentile
Risk Priority 35 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2023-36842 is a medium-severity Improper Check or Handling of Exceptional Conditions (CWE-703) vulnerability in Juniper Junos. Its CVSS base score is 6.5 (Medium).

Operationally, ranked at the 22th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

An Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions vulnerability in Juniper DHCP Daemon (jdhcpd) of Juniper Networks Junos OS allows an adjacent, unauthenticated attacker to cause the jdhcpd to consume all the CPU cycles resulting in a Denial of Service…

more

(DoS). On Junos OS devices with forward-snooped-client configured, if an attacker sends a specific DHCP packet to a non-configured interface, this will cause an infinite loop. The DHCP process will have to be restarted to recover the service. This issue affects: Juniper Networks Junos OS * All versions earlier than 20.4R3-S9; * 21.2 versions earlier than 21.2R3-S7; * 21.3 versions earlier than 21.3R3-S5; * 21.4 versions earlier than 21.4R3-S5; * 22.1 versions earlier than 22.1R3-S4; * 22.2 versions earlier than 22.2R3-S3; * 22.3 versions earlier than 22.3R3-S2; * 22.4 versions earlier than 22.4R2-S2, 22.4R3; * 23.2 versions earlier than 23.2R2.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2023-22391Same product: Juniper Junos
CVE-2026-0203Same product: Juniper Junos
CVE-2025-52948Same product: Juniper Junos
CVE-2023-44188Same product: Juniper Junos
CVE-2023-28975Same product: Juniper Junos
CVE-2023-28970Same product: Juniper Junos
CVE-2024-39511Same product: Juniper Junos
CVE-2024-47494Same product: Juniper Junos
CVE-2026-21916Same product: Juniper Junos
CVE-2025-21601Same product: Juniper Junos

Affected Assets

juniper
junos
20.4, 21.2, 21.3, 21.4, 22.1 · ≤ 20.4

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)
  • 1 hardening rule · 1 OS baseline
Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

addresses: CWE-703 CWE-755

Implements explicit check and handling for the exceptional condition of audit logging process failure.

addresses: CWE-703 CWE-755

Provides a defined response to detected conditions by restricting operation, ensuring exceptional conditions are handled rather than ignored or mishandled.

addresses: CWE-703 CWE-755

Contingency training equips users with defined procedures to check and respond to exceptional conditions during disruptions, reducing exploitation of mishandled errors.

addresses: CWE-703 CWE-755

Regular updates keep contingency procedures aligned with system changes, providing structured handling for exceptional conditions that would otherwise allow unmitigated exploitation.

addresses: CWE-703 CWE-755

Policy defines checks and handling for exceptional conditions arising from security incidents.

addresses: CWE-703 CWE-755

Performing IR tests ensures exceptional conditions are properly checked and handled to enable effective response.

addresses: CWE-703 CWE-755

Supplies advice and assistance on handling incidents, improving checks and responses to exceptional conditions.

addresses: CWE-703 CWE-755

Mandates explicit, predictable handling of exceptional conditions rather than undefined continuation.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

Secure SDLC practices explicitly require anticipating and correctly handling exceptional conditions during design and coding.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

detects

Security testing in development and acceptance verifies correct handling of exceptional conditions.

degrades

Documented operating procedures may specify exception handling but do not guarantee implementation.

A.8.15 Logging partial match
detects

Logging captures unhandled exceptions, aiding detection but not preventing the weakness.

detects

Monitoring can surface unhandled exceptions but does not enforce proper handling.

prevents

Secure SDLC mandates exception-handling requirements and testing that directly prevent improper handling of exceptional conditions.

prevents

Application security requirements explicitly include handling of error and exceptional conditions.

References