CVE-2020-1616 in JATP
Summary
by MITRE
Due to insufficient server-side login attempt limit enforcement, a vulnerability in the SSH login service of Juniper Networks Juniper Advanced Threat Prevention (JATP) Series and Virtual JATP (vJATP) devices allows an unauthenticated, remote attacker to perform multiple login attempts in excess of the configured login attempt limit. Successful exploitation will allow the attacker to perform brute-force password attacks on the SSH service. This issue affects: Juniper Networks JATP and vJATP versions prior to 5.0.6.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-1616 represents a critical security weakness in Juniper Networks' Advanced Threat Prevention solutions, specifically affecting JATP and vJATP devices running versions prior to 5.0.6.0. This flaw resides within the SSH login service implementation where the system fails to properly enforce server-side login attempt limits, creating a pathway for unauthorized access attempts. The issue stems from inadequate rate limiting mechanisms that should normally restrict the number of authentication attempts within a given time frame to prevent automated brute-force attacks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of SSH login services where an attacker can submit multiple authentication requests without proper enforcement of configured limits. This allows for extended brute-force password attacks against the SSH service, bypassing the intended security controls that should prevent excessive login attempts. The flaw manifests as insufficient server-side validation of authentication attempts, enabling attackers to repeatedly attempt different credential combinations without triggering the protective mechanisms that would normally lock out or delay subsequent attempts. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-307, which addresses inadequate protection against repeated authentication attempts, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1110.003 for Brute Force: Password Guessing.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it exposes JATP and vJATP devices to remote exploitation by unauthenticated attackers who can leverage brute-force attacks to gain unauthorized access to critical threat prevention systems. These devices typically serve as essential components in enterprise security infrastructures, making their compromise particularly dangerous as it could lead to complete system takeover, data exfiltration, and disruption of threat detection capabilities. The vulnerability affects the core authentication service of these security appliances, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges and access sensitive threat intelligence data, configuration files, and operational controls.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-1616 should prioritize immediate deployment of Juniper's official security patches and firmware updates, specifically version 5.0.6.0 or later, which address the insufficient login attempt limit enforcement. Organizations should also implement additional network-level protections including firewall rules to restrict SSH access to trusted IP addresses, deployment of SSH key-based authentication instead of password authentication where possible, and implementation of network intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious authentication patterns. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify affected systems and establish monitoring procedures for detecting brute-force attack attempts. The remediation process should also include review and strengthening of default security configurations, implementation of account lockout policies, and consideration of additional authentication factors through multi-factor authentication mechanisms to provide defense in depth against similar vulnerabilities.