CVE-2017-2334 in NorthStar Controller Application
Summary
by MITRE
An information leak vulnerability in Juniper Networks NorthStar Controller Application prior to version 2.1.0 Service Pack 1 may allow a network-based malicious attacker to perform a man-in-the-middle attack, thereby stealing authentic credentials from encrypted paths which are easily decrypted, and subsequently gain complete control of the system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/24/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2334 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Juniper Networks NorthStar Controller Application affecting versions prior to 2.1.0 Service Pack 1. This vulnerability stems from inadequate cryptographic implementation that fails to properly secure authentication credentials transmitted over network paths. The flaw creates a significant security gap that enables malicious actors to intercept and decrypt sensitive authentication data, ultimately compromising system integrity and access controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the application's handling of encrypted communication channels where authentication tokens and credentials are transmitted. The NorthStar Controller Application fails to properly implement secure key exchange mechanisms and encryption protocols, allowing attackers to exploit weaknesses in the cryptographic framework. This weakness specifically affects the transport layer security implementation where encrypted paths are established between network components and the controller. The vulnerability manifests when the application does not adequately validate certificate chains or implement proper cryptographic binding between communicating parties.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe threat to network infrastructure security as it enables man-in-the-middle attacks that can be executed by remote attackers without requiring physical access to the network. The ability to decrypt authentication credentials means that attackers can gain unauthorized access to the NorthStar Controller application, potentially leading to complete system compromise. This vulnerability undermines the fundamental security assumptions of encrypted network communications and allows attackers to establish persistent access to critical network management functions. The impact extends beyond simple credential theft to include potential disruption of network operations and unauthorized modification of network configurations.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic weaknesses in security implementations, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1075 for legitimate credentials and T1566 for credential access through network sniffing. Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the available patches from Juniper Networks, which address the cryptographic implementation flaws in the NorthStar Controller Application. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should review their certificate management practices and ensure proper implementation of certificate validation procedures to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other network components. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of patched systems to verify that cryptographic implementations properly secure authentication credentials and prevent unauthorized access to encrypted network paths.