Junos OS: Kernel memory leak in virtual-memory due to interface flaps

Summary

The kernel memory usage represented as "temp" via 'show system virtual-memory' may constantly increase when Integrated Routing and Bridging (IRB) is configured with multiple underlay physical interfaces, and one interface flaps. This memory leak can affect running daemons (processes), leading to an extended Denial of Service (DoS) condition. Usage of "temp" virtual memory, shown here by a constantly increasing value of outstanding Requests, can be monitored by executing the 'show system virtual-memory' command as shown below: user@junos> show system virtual-memory |match "fpc|type|temp" fpc0: -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Type InUse MemUse HighUse Requests Size(s) temp 2023 431K - 10551 16,32,64,128,256,512,1024,2048,4096,65536,262144,1048576,2097152,4194304,8388608 fpc1: -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Type InUse MemUse HighUse Requests Size(s) temp 2020 431K - 6460 16,32,64,128,256,512,1024,2048,4096,65536,262144,1048576,2097152,4194304,8388608 user@junos> show system virtual-memory |match "fpc|type|temp" fpc0: -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Type InUse MemUse HighUse Requests Size(s) temp 2023 431K - 16101 16,32,64,128,256,512,1024,2048,4096,65536,262144,1048576,2097152,4194304,8388608 fpc1: -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Type InUse MemUse HighUse Requests Size(s) temp 2020 431K - 6665 16,32,64,128,256,512,1024,2048,4096,65536,262144,1048576,2097152,4194304,8388608 user@junos> show system virtual-memory |match "fpc|type|temp" fpc0: -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Type InUse MemUse HighUse Requests Size(s) temp 2023 431K - 21867 16,32,64,128,256,512,1024,2048,4096,65536,262144,1048576,2097152,4194304,8388608 fpc1: -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Type InUse MemUse HighUse Requests Size(s) temp 2020 431K - 6858 16,32,64,128,256,512,1024,2048,4096,65536,262144,1048576,2097152,4194304,8388608 This issue affects Juniper Networks Junos OS: 16.1 versions prior to 16.1R7-S6; 17.1 versions prior to 17.1R2-S11, 17.1R3-S1; 17.2 versions prior to 17.2R2-S8, 17.2R3-S3; 17.2X75 versions prior to 17.2X75-D44; 17.3 versions prior to 17.3R2-S5, 17.3R3-S6; 17.4 versions prior to 17.4R2-S5, 17.4R3; 18.1 versions prior to 18.1R3-S7; 18.2 versions prior to 18.2R2-S5, 18.2R3; 18.2X75 versions prior to 18.2X75-D33, 18.2X75-D411, 18.2X75-D420, 18.2X75-D60; 18.3 versions prior to 18.3R1-S5, 18.3R2-S3, 18.3R3; 18.4 versions prior to 18.4R2-S2, 18.4R3; 19.1 versions prior to 19.1R1-S3, 19.1R2; 19.2 versions prior to 19.2R1-S3, 19.2R2. This issue does not affect Juniper Networks Junos OS 12.3 and 15.1.