CVE-2021-0212 in Networks Contrail
Summary
by MITRE • 01/16/2021
An Information Exposure vulnerability in Juniper Networks Contrail Networking allows a locally authenticated attacker able to read files to retrieve administrator credentials stored in plaintext thereby elevating their privileges over the system. This issue affects: Juniper Networks Contrail Networking versions prior to 1911.31.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/14/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-0212 represents a critical information exposure flaw within Juniper Networks Contrail Networking platform that fundamentally compromises system security through improper credential handling. This vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to 1911.31 and creates a pathway for locally authenticated attackers to exploit plaintext credential storage mechanisms. The flaw resides in the platform's configuration and access control implementation where administrative credentials are stored in an easily readable format rather than being properly encrypted or obfuscated. This design oversight creates a significant attack surface that directly enables privilege escalation attacks by allowing malicious actors with local access to extract sensitive authentication information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate security controls in the credential management subsystem of Contrail Networking. When administrative credentials are stored in plaintext format, they become immediately accessible to any local user who can read the relevant files or processes. This represents a fundamental failure in secure credential storage practices and aligns with CWE-312, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper data handling. The vulnerability exploits the lack of proper access controls and encryption mechanisms that should normally protect sensitive authentication data from unauthorized access. Attackers can leverage this weakness to bypass normal authentication procedures and gain elevated privileges within the system.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates severe consequences for organizations relying on Juniper Contrail Networking for their network infrastructure management. The ability to retrieve administrator credentials through plaintext exposure means that even minor local access can result in complete system compromise. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity aspects of the CIA triad, as it allows unauthorized access to privileged accounts and potentially enables further lateral movement within the network. The impact extends beyond immediate privilege escalation to include potential data breaches, system manipulation, and unauthorized network configuration changes that could affect the entire infrastructure.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigation strategies including upgrading to Contrail Networking version 1911.31 or later, which contains the necessary security patches to address the plaintext credential storage issue. System administrators must also review and strengthen local access controls, implement proper file permissions, and consider additional monitoring for unauthorized file access attempts. The remediation process should include comprehensive credential rotation for all administrative accounts that may have been exposed. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and implement network segmentation to limit the impact of local access compromises. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper credential management and the need for robust security controls throughout all system components, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers credential access through various attack vectors including local privilege escalation.