CVE-2009-3485 in Junos
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the J-Web interface in Juniper JUNOS 8.5R1.14 and 9.0R1.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the PATH_INFO to the default URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/23/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-3485 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the J-Web interface of Juniper JUNOS operating systems. This issue affects specifically versions 8.5R1.14 and 9.0R1.1, making them susceptible to remote code execution through malicious web script injection. The vulnerability resides in how the system processes PATH_INFO parameters when handling requests to the default URI, creating an attack surface that can be exploited by unauthorized actors without requiring authentication or privileged access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the J-Web interface components. When the system receives a request containing malicious PATH_INFO data, it fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before rendering it in the web interface context. This processing gap allows attackers to inject arbitrary HTML and JavaScript code that executes within the victim's browser session. The flaw specifically targets the default URI handling mechanism, which means any user accessing the web management interface could potentially be exposed to this attack vector.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-3485 extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to perform a range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. An attacker could craft malicious URLs that, when visited by an authenticated user, would execute scripts that steal session cookies or redirect users to phishing sites. The vulnerability's remote nature means attackers do not need physical access to the network or direct system interaction, making it particularly dangerous for network administrators who rely on web-based management interfaces for device configuration and monitoring.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a weakness in input validation and output encoding. The ATT&CK framework would classify this as a web application attack vector under the technique of "Command and Scripting Interpreter" with potential for "Credential Access" and "Persistence" through session manipulation. Organizations using affected Juniper JUNOS versions face significant risk to their network infrastructure security, as compromised web interfaces could provide attackers with unauthorized access to critical network management functions and device configurations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-3485 should include immediate deployment of Juniper's official security patches and firmware updates that address the input validation issues in the J-Web interface. Network administrators should also implement additional security measures such as web application firewalls, input filtering rules, and regular security monitoring of web interface access logs. The recommended approach involves configuring the system to properly sanitize all PATH_INFO parameters and implementing strict output encoding for all user-supplied data rendered in web contexts. Organizations should also consider network segmentation and access control measures to limit exposure of vulnerable web management interfaces to untrusted networks and users.