# CVE-2026-102053: Juniper Junos OS memory leak in l2ald process

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-102053-an-improper-release-of-memory-before-removing-last-reference  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-14. Updated: 2026-10-16  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-102053 · Severity: medium · CVSS 5.3 · Published 2026-10-14

Juniper Junos OS, a network routing and switching operating system used in enterprise QFX switches, contains a memory leak in its Layer 2 daemon (l2ald) that handles EVPN virtual networking. An attacker with access to configure an EVPN peer can exploit this to exhaust the device's memory and cause a denial of service, making the switch unavailable.

Technologies: [Juniper Networks Junos OS](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/juniper-networks-junos-os), [Juniper Networks Junos OS Evolved](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/junos-os-evolved). Vendors: [Juniper Networks](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/juniper-networks).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-102053 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-102053 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-102053?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 5.3, published 14 October 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Juniper Networks Junos OS QFX5K-family platforms; Juniper Networks Junos OS Evolved QFX5K-family platforms.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-102053?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2026-102053 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-102053?** Check whether you run Juniper Networks Junos OS or Juniper Networks Junos OS Evolved at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

The l2ald process in Junos OS and Junos OS Evolved on QFX5K platforms fails to properly release memory during EVPN-VXLAN active-active multihoming route processing, allowing a memory leak that can be triggered by a configured EVPN peer sending specially crafted traffic. An authenticated attacker with EVPN peer access can cause repeated memory exhaustion leading to denial of service through resource depletion.

## Affected products

- Juniper Networks Junos OS QFX5K-family platforms
- Juniper Networks Junos OS Evolved QFX5K-family platforms

## Timeline

- 2026-10-14: disclosed

## References

- [https://supportportal.juniper.net/JSA112187](https://supportportal.juniper.net/JSA112187)

## Related threats

- [Juniper Networks Junos OS stack buffer overflow in BGP/EVPN](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-101982-a-stack-based-buffer-overflow-vulnerability-in-the-routing)
- [Juniper Networks Junos OS stack buffer overflow in rpd](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-101981-a-stack-based-buffer-overflow-vulnerability-in-the-routing)
- [Juniper Junos OS routing protocol daemon crash in ISO-VPN](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-101952-an-improper-validation-of-consistency-within-input-vulnerability)
- [Juniper Networks Junos OS stack buffer overflow in BGP routing daemon](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-102178-a-stack-based-buffer-overflow-vulnerability-in-the-bgp-routing)
- [Juniper Junos buffer overflow in SDK service process](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-102176-a-buffer-copy-without-checking-size-of-input-classic-buffer)