CVE-2023-28973 - Exploiting Improper Authorization in Juniper Networks Junos OS Evolved

A recently discovered vulnerability (CVE-2023-28973) in Juniper Networks Junos OS Evolved has exposed an Improper Authorization issue in the 'sysmanctl' shell command. This flaw allows an attacker, who has local and authenticated access, to execute administrative commands which may affect the system's integrity or availability. In this post, we'll discuss the details of the vulnerability, demonstrate a code snippet, and provide links to original references for further reading.

Exploit Details

The vulnerability lies in the 'sysmanctl' shell command of Juniper Networks Junos OS Evolved. An attacker who has access to the Junos shell can exploit this vulnerability to perform administrative functions such as:

Shutting down nodes

These actions can have serious consequences on the system's stability and availability, potentially leading to the compromise of sensitive information or a complete shutdown.

Code Snippet

The following code snippet shows how the 'sysmanctl' command can be invoked from the Junos shell. Note that this is a simulation and should not be used on a real system without proper authorization and awareness of the potential consequences.

# This is an illustrative example only and should NOT be run on a live system.
$ sysmanctl --restart-daemon some_daemon_name
$ sysmanctl --switch-routing-engine
$ sysmanctl --shutdown-node some_node_name

For more details on this vulnerability, please refer to the original sources

- Juniper Networks Security Advisory
- NIST National Vulnerability Database

Mitigation

To protect your system against this vulnerability, it's recommended to update your Juniper Networks Junos OS Evolved to one of the unaffected versions mentioned above. Moreover, ensure that access to the Junos shell is limited to authorized personnel and monitor logs for any suspicious activity involving the 'sysmanctl' command.

Conclusion

CVE-2023-28973 is a critical vulnerability in the Juniper Networks Junos OS Evolved that can be exploited by a local, authenticated attacker to perform administrative functions with serious consequences on the system. Users should update their systems to a secure version and follow best practices for access control and monitoring.

Timeline

Published on: 04/17/2023 22:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 04/18/2023 03:15:00 UTC