CVE-2022-22209
Junos OS: RIB and PFEs can get out of sync due to a memory leak caused by interface flaps or route churn
A Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime vulnerability in the kernel of Juniper Networks Junos OS allows an unauthenticated network based attacker to cause a Denial of Service (DoS). On all Junos platforms, the Kernel Routing Table (KRT) queue can get stuck due to a memory leak triggered by interface flaps or route churn leading to RIB and PFEs getting out of sync. The memory leak causes RTNEXTHOP/route and next-hop memory pressure issue and the KRT queue will eventually get stuck with the error- 'ENOMEM -- Cannot allocate memory'. The out-of-sync state between RIB and FIB can be seen with the "show route" and "show route forwarding-table" command. This issue will lead to failures for adding new routes. The KRT queue status can be checked using the CLI command "show krt queue": user@host > show krt state High-priority add queue: 1 queued ADD nhtype Router index 0 (31212) error 'ENOMEM -- Cannot allocate memory' kqp '0x8ad5e40' The following messages will be observed in /var/log/messages, which indicate high memory for routes/nexthops: host rpd[16279]: RPD_RT_HWM_NOTICE: New RIB highwatermark for routes: 266 [2022-03-04 05:06:07] host rpd[16279]: RPD_KRT_Q_RETRIES: nexthop ADD: Cannot allocate memory host rpd[16279]: RPD_KRT_Q_RETRIES: nexthop ADD: Cannot allocate memory host kernel: rts_veto_net_delayed_unref_limit: Route/nexthop memory is severe pressure. User Application to perform recovery actions. O p 8 err 12, rtsm_id 0:-1, msg type 10, veto simulation: 0. host kernel: rts_veto_net_delayed_unref_limit: Memory usage of M_RTNEXTHOP type = (806321208) Max size possible for M_RTNEXTHOP type = (689432176) Current delayed unref = (0), Max delayed unref on this platform = (120000) Current delayed weight unref = (0) Max delayed weight unref on this platform = (400000) curproc = rpd. This issue affects: Juniper Networks Junos OS 21.2 versions prior to 21.2R3; 21.3 versions prior to 21.3R2-S1, 21.3R3; 21.4 versions prior to 21.4R1-S2, 21.4R2; This issue does not affect Juniper Networks Junos OS versions prior to 21.2R1.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- None
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
7.5
Junos OS: RIB and PFEs can get out of sync due to a memory leak caused by interface flaps or route churn
A Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime vulnerability in the kernel of Juniper Networks Junos OS allows an unauthenticated network based attacker to cause a Denial of Service (DoS). On all Junos platforms, the Kernel Routing Table (KRT) queue can get stuck due to a memory leak triggered by interface flaps or route churn leading to RIB and PFEs getting out of sync. The memory leak causes RTNEXTHOP/route and next-hop memory pressure issue and the KRT queue will eventually get stuck with the error- 'ENOMEM -- Cannot allocate memory'. The out-of-sync state between RIB and FIB can be seen with the "show route" and "show route forwarding-table" command. This issue will lead to failures for adding new routes. The KRT queue status can be checked using the CLI command "show krt queue": user@host > show krt state High-priority add queue: 1 queued ADD nhtype Router index 0 (31212) error 'ENOMEM -- Cannot allocate memory' kqp '0x8ad5e40' The following messages will be observed in /var/log/messages, which indicate high memory for routes/nexthops: host rpd[16279]: RPD_RT_HWM_NOTICE: New RIB highwatermark for routes: 266 [2022-03-04 05:06:07] host rpd[16279]: RPD_KRT_Q_RETRIES: nexthop ADD: Cannot allocate memory host rpd[16279]: RPD_KRT_Q_RETRIES: nexthop ADD: Cannot allocate memory host kernel: rts_veto_net_delayed_unref_limit: Route/nexthop memory is severe pressure. User Application to perform recovery actions. O p 8 err 12, rtsm_id 0:-1, msg type 10, veto simulation: 0. host kernel: rts_veto_net_delayed_unref_limit: Memory usage of M_RTNEXTHOP type = (806321208) Max size possible for M_RTNEXTHOP type = (689432176) Current delayed unref = (0), Max delayed unref on this platform = (120000) Current delayed weight unref = (0) Max delayed weight unref on this platform = (400000) curproc = rpd. This issue affects: Juniper Networks Junos OS 21.2 versions prior to 21.2R3; 21.3 versions prior to 21.3R2-S1, 21.3R3; 21.4 versions prior to 21.4R1-S2, 21.4R2; This issue does not affect Juniper Networks Junos OS versions prior to 21.2R1.
- Record
CVE-2022-22209- CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-401
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2022-27356
7.5
A Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime vulnerability in the kernel of Juniper Networks Junos OS allows an unauthenticated network based attacker to cause a Denial of Service (DoS). On all Junos platforms, the Kernel Routing Table (KRT) queue can get stuck due to a memory leak triggered by interface flaps or route churn leading to RIB and PFEs getting out of sync. The memory leak causes RTNEXTHOP/route and next-hop memory pressure issue and the KRT queue will eventually get stuck with the error- 'ENOMEM -- Cannot allocate memory'. The out-of-sync state between RIB and FIB can be seen with the "show route" and "show route forwarding-table" command. This issue will lead to failures for adding new routes. The KRT queue status can be checked using the CLI command "show krt queue": user@host > show krt state High-priority add queue: 1 queued ADD nhtype Router index 0 (31212) error 'ENOMEM -- Cannot allocate memory' kqp '0x8ad5e40' The following messages will be observed in /var/log/messages, which indicate high memory for routes/nexthops: host rpd[16279]: RPD_RT_HWM_NOTICE: New RIB highwatermark for routes: 266 [2022-03-04 05:06:07] host rpd[16279]: RPD_KRT_Q_RETRIES: nexthop ADD: Cannot allocate memory host rpd[16279]: RPD_KRT_Q_RETRIES: nexthop ADD: Cannot allocate memory host kernel: rts_veto_net_delayed_unref_limit: Route/nexthop memory is severe pressure. User Application to perform recovery actions. O p 8 err 12, rtsm_id 0:-1, msg type 10, veto simulation: 0. host kernel: rts_veto_net_delayed_unref_limit: Memory usage of M_RTNEXTHOP type = (806321208) Max size possible for M_RTNEXTHOP type = (689432176) Current delayed unref = (0), Max delayed unref on this platform = (120000) Current delayed weight unref = (0) Max delayed weight unref on this platform = (400000) curproc = rpd. This issue affects: Juniper Networks Junos OS 21.2 versions prior to 21.2R3; 21.3 versions prior to 21.3R2-S1, 21.3R3; 21.4 versions prior to 21.4R1-S2, 21.4R2; This issue does not affect Juniper Networks Junos OS versions prior to 21.2R1.
- Record
EUVD-2022-27356- CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-2jpc-grxp-p4w8
7.5
A Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime vulnerability in the kernel of Juniper...
A Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime vulnerability in the kernel of Juniper Networks Junos OS allows an unauthenticated network based attacker to cause a Denial of Service (DoS). On all Junos platforms, the Kernel Routing Table (KRT) queue can get stuck due to a memory leak triggered by interface flaps or route churn leading to RIB and PFEs getting out of sync. The memory leak causes RTNEXTHOP/route and next-hop memory pressure issue and the KRT queue will eventually get stuck with the error- 'ENOMEM -- Cannot allocate memory'. The out-of-sync state between RIB and FIB can be seen with the "show route" and "show route forwarding-table" command. This issue will lead to failures for adding new routes. The KRT queue status can be checked using the CLI command "show krt queue": user@host > show krt state High-priority add queue: 1 queued ADD nhtype Router index 0 (31212) error 'ENOMEM -- Cannot allocate memory' kqp '0x8ad5e40' The following messages will be observed in /var/log/messages, which indicate high memory for routes/nexthops: host rpd[16279]: RPD_RT_HWM_NOTICE: New RIB highwatermark for routes: 266 [2022-03-04 05:06:07] host rpd[16279]: RPD_KRT_Q_RETRIES: nexthop ADD: Cannot allocate memory host rpd[16279]: RPD_KRT_Q_RETRIES: nexthop ADD: Cannot allocate memory host kernel: rts_veto_net_delayed_unref_limit: Route/nexthop memory is severe pressure. User Application to perform recovery actions. O p 8 err 12, rtsm_id 0:-1, msg type 10, veto simulation: 0. host kernel: rts_veto_net_delayed_unref_limit: Memory usage of M_RTNEXTHOP type = (806321208) Max size possible for M_RTNEXTHOP type = (689432176) Current delayed unref = (0), Max delayed unref on this platform = (120000) Current delayed weight unref = (0) Max delayed weight unref on this platform = (400000) curproc = rpd. This issue affects: Juniper Networks Junos OS 21.2 versions prior to 21.2R3; 21.3 versions prior to 21.3R2-S1, 21.3R3; 21.4 versions prior to 21.4R1-S2, 21.4R2; This issue does not affect Juniper Networks Junos OS versions prior to 21.2R1.
- Record
GHSA-2jpc-grxp-p4w8- CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-401
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
7.5
A Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime vulnerability in the kernel of Juniper Networks Junos OS allows an unauthenticated network based attacker to cause a Denial of Service (DoS). On all Junos platforms, the Kernel Routing Table (KRT) queue can get stuck due to a memory leak triggered by interface flaps or route churn leading to RIB and PFEs getting out of sync. The memory leak causes RTNEXTHOP/route and next-hop memory pressure issue and the KRT queue will eventually get stuck with the error- 'ENOMEM -- Cannot allocate memory'. The out-of-sync state between RIB and FIB can be seen with the "show route" and "show route forwarding-table" command. This issue will lead to failures for adding new routes. The KRT queue status can be checked using the CLI command "show krt queue": user@host > show krt state High-priority add queue: 1 queued ADD nhtype Router index 0 (31212) error 'ENOMEM -- Cannot allocate memory' kqp '0x8ad5e40' The following messages will be observed in /var/log/messages, which indicate high memory for routes/nexthops: host rpd[16279]: RPD_RT_HWM_NOTICE: New RIB highwatermark for routes: 266 [2022-03-04 05:06:07] host rpd[16279]: RPD_KRT_Q_RETRIES: nexthop ADD: Cannot allocate memory host rpd[16279]: RPD_KRT_Q_RETRIES: nexthop ADD: Cannot allocate memory host kernel: rts_veto_net_delayed_unref_limit: Route/nexthop memory is severe pressure. User Application to perform recovery actions. O p 8 err 12, rtsm_id 0:-1, msg type 10, veto simulation: 0. host kernel: rts_veto_net_delayed_unref_limit: Memory usage of M_RTNEXTHOP type = (806321208) Max size possible for M_RTNEXTHOP type = (689432176) Current delayed unref = (0), Max delayed unref on this platform = (120000) Current delayed weight unref = (0) Max delayed weight unref on this platform = (400000) curproc = rpd. This issue affects: Juniper Networks Junos OS 21.2 versions prior to 21.2R3; 21.3 versions prior to 21.3R2-S1, 21.3R3; 21.4 versions prior to 21.4R1-S2, 21.4R2; This issue does not affect Juniper Networks Junos OS versions prior to 21.2R1.
- Record
CVE-2022-22209- CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-401
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| aliases, published | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2022-22209 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.5) in Juniper Junos, published July 20, 2022. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 1.02%, the 63rd percentile. No source names a fixed version.