CVE-2024-39565 in Junos OS
Summary
by MITRE • 07/11/2024
An Improper Neutralization of Data within XPath Expressions ('XPath Injection') vulnerability in J-Web shipped with Juniper Networks Junos OS allows an unauthenticated, network-based attacker to execute remote commands on the target device.
While an administrator is logged into a J-Web session or has previously logged in and subsequently logged out of their J-Web session, the attacker can arbitrarily execute commands on the target device with the other user's credentials. In the worst case, the attacker will have full control over the device. This issue affects Junos OS:
* All versions before 21.2R3-S8, * from 21.4 before 21.4R3-S7, * from 22.2 before 22.2R3-S4, * from 22.3 before 22.3R3-S3, * from 22.4 before 22.4R3-S2, * from 23.2 before 23.2R2, * from 23.4 before 23.4R1-S1, 23.4R2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2024-39565 represents a critical XPath injection flaw within the J-Web interface of Juniper Networks Junos OS operating systems. This security weakness stems from improper neutralization of data within XPath expressions, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate the underlying query structures used for authentication and authorization processes. The vulnerability specifically targets the web-based management interface that administrators use to configure and monitor network devices, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring valid credentials initially.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to inject malicious XPath expressions into input fields that are processed by the J-Web interface. When these expressions are evaluated, they can bypass authentication mechanisms and execute arbitrary commands on the target device with the privileges of other users who have active or recently logged in sessions. This behavior creates a persistent threat vector where attackers can maintain access even after initial exploitation, as long as target sessions remain active or are quickly re-established. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the inherent trust relationships within the web interface's session management system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass complete device compromise. Attackers can execute remote commands with elevated privileges, potentially leading to data exfiltration, configuration changes, network disruption, or use of the compromised device as a pivot point for further attacks within the network infrastructure. The fact that the vulnerability persists even after logout operations indicates a fundamental flaw in session handling and credential management within the J-Web interface. This characteristic significantly increases the attack surface and persistence potential for malicious actors. The vulnerability affects multiple version branches of Junos OS, suggesting it is a widespread issue that has persisted across several major releases, highlighting potential design flaws in the authentication subsystem.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected Junos OS versions to the recommended secure releases, as specified in the vulnerability timeline. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to J-Web interfaces and consider disabling unnecessary web management services where possible. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous command execution patterns and unusual session behaviors within the web interface. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-643, which specifically addresses XPath injection vulnerabilities, and maps to ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and remote code execution through web application interfaces. Regular security assessments of web-based management interfaces should be conducted to identify similar injection vulnerabilities in other network management systems.
The persistence of this vulnerability across multiple Junos OS releases indicates a systemic issue in how XPath expressions are handled within the authentication framework, suggesting that similar vulnerabilities may exist in other components that utilize XPath for data retrieval or filtering operations. Organizations should review their entire network management infrastructure for similar injection vulnerabilities and implement robust input validation and sanitization measures to prevent such issues from occurring in the future.