CVE-2020-1607 in Junos
Summary
by MITRE
Insufficient Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) protection in J-Web may potentially allow a remote attacker to inject web script or HTML, hijack the target user's J-Web session and perform administrative actions on the Junos device as the targeted user. This issue affects Juniper Networks Junos OS 12.3 versions prior to 12.3R12-S15; 12.3X48 versions prior to 12.3X48-D86, 12.3X48-D90 on SRX Series; 14.1X53 versions prior to 14.1X53-D51 on EX and QFX Series; 15.1F6 versions prior to 15.1F6-S13; 15.1 versions prior to 15.1R7-S5; 15.1X49 versions prior to 15.1X49-D181, 15.1X49-D190 on SRX Series; 15.1X53 versions prior to 15.1X53-D238 on QFX5200/QFX5110 Series; 15.1X53 versions prior to 15.1X53-D592 on EX2300/EX3400 Series; 16.1 versions prior to 16.1R4-S13, 16.1R7-S5; 16.2 versions prior to 16.2R2-S10; 17.1 versions prior to 17.1R2-S11, 17.1R3-S1; 17.2 versions prior to 17.2R1-S9, 17.2R3-S2; 17.3 versions prior to 17.3R2-S5, 17.3R3-S5; 17.4 versions prior to 17.4R2-S6, 17.4R3; 18.1 versions prior to 18.1R3-S7; 18.2 versions prior to 18.2R2-S5, 18.2R3; 18.3 versions prior to 18.3R1-S6, 18.3R2-S1, 18.3R3; 18.4 versions prior to 18.4R1-S5, 18.4R2; 19.1 versions prior to 19.1R1-S2, 19.1R2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/24/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in Juniper Networks J-Web interface that enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts against authenticated users. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web-based management interface, allowing attackers to inject malicious code that persists in the victim's browser session. The vulnerability specifically affects multiple versions of Junos OS across various device series including SRX, EX, QFX, and others, making it particularly widespread in enterprise network environments where Juniper devices are commonly deployed. According to CWE-79, this vulnerability falls under the category of Cross-Site Scripting, which represents one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws in the industry.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the injection of malicious JavaScript or HTML code into web forms or parameters within the J-Web interface. When authenticated users navigate to affected pages or interact with maliciously crafted URLs, the injected scripts execute within their browser context, potentially capturing session cookies or performing administrative actions on behalf of the user. This session hijacking capability allows attackers to gain unauthorized administrative access to Junos devices, potentially leading to complete network compromise. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it operates at the web interface level, meaning that successful exploitation requires only network access to the device's management interface rather than physical access or advanced privileges. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a web application attack vector under the T1190 technique for Exploit Public-Facing Application, with potential lateral movement and privilege escalation capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple session hijacking to encompass complete administrative control over affected network devices. Attackers could potentially modify firewall rules, change routing configurations, disable security features, or extract sensitive network information from compromised devices. Given that J-Web serves as the primary interface for device management, the attack surface is substantial and affects critical network infrastructure components. Organizations using affected Junos OS versions face significant risk of unauthorized access to their network security controls, potentially allowing attackers to establish persistent access points or conduct advanced persistent threat operations. The vulnerability affects multiple device series and software versions, requiring comprehensive assessment and remediation across entire network infrastructures. The widespread nature of affected versions suggests that many enterprise networks may be exposed to this risk, particularly those with legacy deployments that have not been updated to newer software releases.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected devices to the latest supported software versions that contain the necessary security fixes. Network administrators should implement network segmentation to limit access to management interfaces and employ additional authentication controls such as two-factor authentication. Monitoring for suspicious web traffic patterns and implementing web application firewalls can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all affected devices and ensure that the patches are properly applied across all network components. Additionally, implementing network access controls that restrict management interface access to trusted IP ranges and employing regular security audits can help reduce the attack surface and improve overall security posture. The vulnerability's classification as a high-severity issue according to CVSS scoring standards necessitates immediate attention and remediation to prevent potential exploitation by threat actors.