CVE-2023-44194

An Incorrect Default Permissions vulnerability in Juniper Networks Junos OS allows an unauthenticated attacker with local access to the device to create a backdoor with root privileges. The issue is caused by improper directory permissions on a certain system directory, allowing an attacker with access to this directory to create a backdoor with root privileges.

This issue affects Juniper Networks Junos OS:

• All versions prior to 20.4R3-S5;
• 21.1 versions prior to 21.1R3-S4;
• 21.2 versions prior to 21.2R3-S4;
• 21.3 versions prior to 21.3R3-S3;
• 21.4 versions prior to 21.4R3-S1.

Weakness

During installation, installed file permissions are set to allow anyone to modify those files.

Affected Software

Potential Mitigations

• Compartmentalize the system to have “safe” areas where trust boundaries can be unambiguously drawn. Do not allow sensitive data to go outside of the trust boundary and always be careful when interfacing with a compartment outside of the safe area.
• Ensure that appropriate compartmentalization is built into the system design, and the compartmentalization allows for and reinforces privilege separation functionality. Architects and designers should rely on the principle of least privilege to decide the appropriate time to use privileges and the time to drop privileges.

Related Attack Patterns

• https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/1.html
• https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/127.html
• https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/81.html

References

• https://supportportal.juniper.net/JSA73158