CVE-2021-31366: An Unchecked Return Value vulnerability in the authd (authentication daemon) of Juniper Networks Junos OS on MX Series configured for subscriber manag...

Description

An Unchecked Return Value vulnerability in the authd (authentication daemon) of Juniper Networks Junos OS on MX Series configured for subscriber management / BBE allows an adjacent attacker to cause a crash by sending a specific username. This impacts authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) services on the MX devices and leads to a Denial of Service (DoS) condition. Continued receipted of these PPP login request will create a sustained Denial of Service (DoS) condition. This issue affects: Juniper Networks Junos OS 15.1 versions prior to 15.1R7-S9; 17.3 versions prior to 17.3R3-S12; 17.4 versions prior to 17.4R3-S5; 18.1 versions prior to 18.1R3-S13; 18.2 versions prior to 18.2R3-S8; 18.3 versions prior to 18.3R3-S5; 18.4 versions prior to 18.4R3-S9; 19.1 versions prior to 19.1R3-S6; 19.2 versions prior to 19.2R1-S7, 19.2R3-S3; 19.3 versions prior to 19.3R2-S6, 19.3R3-S3; 19.4 versions prior to 19.4R3-S3; 20.1 versions prior to 20.1R3; 20.2 versions prior to 20.2R3-S1; 20.3 versions prior to 20.3R3; 20.4 versions prior to 20.4R3; 21.1 versions prior to 21.1R2.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

6.5/10

CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

EPSS Probability

0.41%

32.4th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions	Update
Juniper	Junos	15.1	—
Juniper	Junos	17.3	—
Juniper	Junos	17.4	—
Juniper	Junos	18.1	—
Juniper	Junos	18.2	—
Juniper	Junos	18.3	—
Juniper	Junos	18.4	—
Juniper	Junos	19.1	—
Juniper	Junos	19.2	—
Juniper	Junos	19.3	—
Juniper	Junos	19.4	R1
Juniper	Junos	20.1	R1
Juniper	Junos	20.2	R1
Juniper	Junos	20.3	R1
Juniper	Junos	20.4	R1
Juniper	Junos	21.1	R1

References

https://kb.juniper.net/JSA11228Patch, Vendor Advisory
https://kb.juniper.net/JSA11228Patch, Vendor Advisory

Timeline

Published: Oct 19, 2021
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2021-31366?

An Unchecked Return Value vulnerability in the authd (authentication daemon) of Juniper Networks Junos OS on MX Series configured for subscriber management / BBE allows an adjacent attacker to cause a crash by sending a specific username. This impacts authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) services on the MX devices and leads to a Denial of Service (DoS) condition. Continued receipted of these PPP login request will create a sustained Denial of Service (DoS) condition. This issue affects: Juniper Networks Junos OS 15.1 versions prior to 15.1R7-S9; 17.3 versions prior to 17.3R3-S12; 17.4 versions prior to 17.4R3-S5; 18.1 versions prior to 18.1R3-S13; 18.2 versions prior to 18.2R3-S8; 18.3 versions prior to 18.3R3-S5; 18.4 versions prior to 18.4R3-S9; 19.1 versions prior to 19.1R3-S6; 19.2 versions prior to 19.2R1-S7, 19.2R3-S3; 19.3 versions prior to 19.3R2-S6, 19.3R3-S3; 19.4 versions prior to 19.4R3-S3; 20.1 versions prior to 20.1R3; 20.2 versions prior to 20.2R3-S1; 20.3 versions prior to 20.3R3; 20.4 versions prior to 20.4R3; 21.1 versions prior to 21.1R2.

How severe is CVE-2021-31366?

CVE-2021-31366 has a CVSS score of 6.5/10 (MEDIUM severity). The EPSS model estimates a 0.41% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2021-31366?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.