CVE-2017-10620 in Junos
Summary
by MITRE
Juniper Networks Junos OS on SRX series devices do not verify the HTTPS server certificate before downloading anti-virus updates. This may allow a man-in-the-middle attacker to inject bogus signatures to cause service disruptions or make the device not detect certain types of attacks. Affected Junos OS releases are: 12.1X46 prior to 12.1X46-D71; 12.3X48 prior to 12.3X48-D55; 15.1X49 prior to 15.1X49-D110;
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-10620 affects Juniper Networks SRX series devices running specific versions of Junos OS, creating a critical security gap in the anti-virus update verification process. This flaw resides in the device's handling of HTTPS connections during anti-virus signature downloads, where the system fails to properly validate server certificates before accepting and installing updates. The vulnerability represents a fundamental breakdown in the security architecture of these network appliances, which are designed to protect enterprise networks from various cyber threats while maintaining secure communications with external update servers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper certificate validation procedures within the Junos OS update mechanism. When SRX devices attempt to download anti-virus signatures from remote servers, they do not perform adequate verification of the HTTPS server certificates presented during the connection. This allows attackers positioned in the network path between the device and the update server to conduct man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting forged certificates. The weakness directly corresponds to CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation, and demonstrates how insufficient cryptographic validation can lead to complete compromise of security controls. The vulnerability affects multiple release branches including 12.1X46, 12.3X48, and 15.1X49, indicating a widespread issue across different versions of the operating system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially enable sophisticated attack scenarios that could render the security device ineffective. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could inject malicious anti-virus signatures that would cause the device to either fail to detect legitimate threats or to incorrectly identify benign traffic as malicious. This creates a false sense of security for network administrators while simultaneously allowing actual attacks to proceed undetected. The disruption potential includes complete failure of the anti-virus protection mechanism, leaving networks vulnerable to malware and other threats that the device was specifically designed to prevent. According to ATT&CK framework category T1071.004, this vulnerability enables protocol manipulation through certificate forgery, which can be leveraged to achieve persistent network infiltration.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-10620 require immediate implementation of firmware updates provided by Juniper Networks to address the certificate validation flaw. Organizations should also implement network monitoring to detect anomalous traffic patterns that might indicate certificate tampering attempts, and establish more robust certificate management procedures for all network devices. Network segmentation and additional layers of authentication should be considered as temporary measures while permanent fixes are deployed. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security controls and proper certificate validation in network infrastructure devices, particularly those handling security-critical functions such as anti-virus signature management. Organizations should also review their overall security posture and ensure that all network appliances maintain proper certificate validation procedures to prevent similar issues from compromising their defensive capabilities.