Security flaw in Juniper's JunOS can be used to crash routers
A serious flaw in the operating system running Juniper routers can make them crash and reboot, the network equipment vendor has advised.
By sending a specially crafted transmission control protocol (TCP) packet to a listening port on a Juniper Routing Engine, it's possible to make the kernel in JunOS crash, and cause them to swich over or reboot.
The chief technical officer at New Zealand ISP and Juniper Elite partner Snap Internet, Sam Brock-Smith labelled the flaw "nasty". "It has the potential to crash or lock up core Juniper routers," Brock-Smith said. Snap Internet uses Juniper switches and routers extensively on its national network and at overseas locations, Brock-Smith said, adding that the provider's engineering team is working with the Juniper Technical Assistance Centre (JTAC) to ensure it is protected against the vulnerability.
