CVE-2013-5097 in Junos Space
Summary
by MITRE
Juniper Junos Space before 13.1R1.6, as used on the JA1500 appliance and in other contexts, does not properly restrict access to the list of user accounts and their MD5 password hashes, which makes it easier for remote authenticated users to obtain sensitive information via a dictionary attack, aka PR 879462.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/21/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-5097 affects Juniper Junos Space versions prior to 13.1R1.6, specifically impacting the JA1500 appliance and related systems. This flaw represents a critical access control weakness that undermines the security posture of network management platforms. The vulnerability stems from insufficient restrictions on user account enumeration and password hash exposure, creating a pathway for malicious actors to gather sensitive authentication data. The issue manifests in environments where Junos Space serves as a centralized management interface for network devices, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise administrative access. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of authentication mechanisms within the Juniper network management ecosystem.
The technical flaw involves improper access control implementation that allows authenticated users to retrieve lists of user accounts along with their MD5 password hashes through unauthorized means. This occurs due to inadequate input validation and access restriction mechanisms within the Junos Space administrative interface. The vulnerability essentially creates a backdoor for information disclosure that enables attackers to compile comprehensive user account databases. When combined with the MD5 hash exposure, this weakness provides adversaries with sufficient information to conduct dictionary attacks against the exposed credentials. The flaw operates at the application level and can be exploited by any authenticated user who has access to the administrative interface, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users maintain administrative privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-5097 extends beyond simple information disclosure, creating a significant attack surface for credential compromise. Remote authenticated users can leverage this vulnerability to build comprehensive user dictionaries that can then be used for brute force or dictionary attacks against the exposed MD5 hashes. This weakness particularly affects organizations relying on Juniper's network management solutions, where the JA1500 appliance serves as a central point of administration. The vulnerability enables attackers to escalate privileges and potentially gain full administrative control over network infrastructure. Organizations may experience unauthorized access to critical network devices, leading to potential data breaches, service disruption, and compliance violations. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires only authenticated access, which is often more easily obtained than initial compromise through other attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-5097 primarily focus on immediate software updates and access control hardening. Organizations should immediately upgrade to Junos Space version 13.1R1.6 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the access control restrictions. System administrators should implement strict access control policies, limiting administrative privileges to only essential personnel and enforcing multi-factor authentication. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation and credential access tactics, specifically T1078 for valid accounts and T1110 for credential access through brute force or dictionary attacks. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to ensure proper implementation of access controls and to identify similar vulnerabilities in other network management systems.