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

published 2020-10-16 6 y ago modified 2026-06-17 4 mo ago also EUVD-2020-12551

cvss: 6.5; version 3.1, CNA
cisa kev: Not listed; not in CISA's catalog
epss: 0.5%; EPSS 0.5% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 43%
public exploits: 0; none known

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.

Patch / fix

fixed in 1

Juniper Networks Junos OS 17.3R3-S9, 17.4R2-S11, 17.4R3-S2, 17.4R3-S3, 18.1R3-S11, 18.2R3-S5, 18.3R2-S4, 18.3R3-S3, 18.4R2-S5, 18.4R3-S4, 19.1R3-S2, 19.2R1-S5, 19.2R3, 19.3R2-S4, 19.3R3, 19.4R1-S3, 19.4R2-S1, 19.4R3, 20.1R1-S3, 20.1R2

Exploit prediction

0.50% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 43% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-08).

CVSS scores

assigned by	version	score	vector
CNA	3.1	6.5	CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
NVD	2.0	3.3	AV:A/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P

Affected products

Juniper Networks Junos OS

Classification

Weakness

CWE-400 Uncontrolled Resource Consumption

References

kb.juniper.net /JSA11086
vendor-advisory

Sources

CVE List CVE-2020-1689
NVD CVE-2020-1689

Fencer Vulns keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.

Summary