# CVE-2020-1654: Memory corruption in Junos OS

> Attackers can trigger remote code execution or denial of service on Juniper SRX devices by sending malformed HTTP messages when ICAP is enabled.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 17 Jul 2020
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-jwqg-fhhf-42x8

## What is CVE-2020-1654?

CVE-2020-1654 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Juniper Junos, published on 17 Jul 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

On Juniper Networks SRX Series with ICAP (Internet Content Adaptation Protocol) redirect service enabled, processing a malformed HTTP message can lead to a Denial of Service (DoS) or Remote Code Execution (RCE) Continued processing of this malformed HTTP message may result in an extended Denial of Service (DoS) condition. The offending HTTP message that causes this issue may originate both from the HTTP server or the HTTP client. This issue affects Juniper Networks Junos OS on SRX Series: 18.1 versions prior to 18.1R3-S9 ; 18.2 versions prior to 18.2R2-S7, 18.2R3-S3; 18.3 versions prior to 18.3R1-S7, 18.3R2-S4, 18.3R3-S1; 18.4 versions prior to 18.4R1-S7, 18.4R2-S4, 18.4R3; 19.1 versions prior to 19.1R1-S5, 19.1R2; 19.2 versions prior to 19.2R1-S2, 19.2R2; 19.3 versions prior to 19.3R2. This issue does not affect Juniper Networks Junos OS prior to 18.1R1.

Weakness: CWE-120 (Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-1654?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Juniper Junos.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-1654?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-1654 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-1654 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-1654 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Juniper Junos

- [CVE-2023-36845](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-36845/): Juniper Junos OS EX Series and SRX Series PHP External Variable Modification (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-1631](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-1631/): Juniper Junos OS Path Traversal (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-21590](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-21590/): Juniper Junos OS Improper Isolation or Compartmentalization (medium 6.7, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2023-36851](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-36851/): Juniper Junos OS SRX Series Missing Authentication for Critical Function (medium 5.3, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2023-36844](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-36844/): Juniper Junos OS EX Series PHP External Variable Modification (medium 5.3, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-1654 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-1654 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Juniper Junos, published on 17 Jul 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-1654 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Juniper Junos. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-1654/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-1654/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-1654
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-1654
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-1654

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-1654/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.