CVE-2023-44194

Junos OS: An unauthenticated attacker with local access to the device can create a backdoor with root privileges

HIGH

7.8

CVSS Score

Published: October 12, 2023 at 11:04 PM UTC

Updated: June 17, 2026 at 06:27 AM UTC

1 product affected across 1 vendorJunos

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Severity

HIGH7.8

Exploit prediction

EPSS 0.2%

SSVC

No known exploit

Description

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.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

Junos · Juniper Networks

95%

v < 20.4v < 20.4R3-S521.1 ≤ v < 21.1R3-S421.2 ≤ v < 21.2R3-S421.3 ≤ v < 21.3R3-S321.4 ≤ v < 21.4R3-S120.4 20.4 r1 20.4 r1-s1 20.4 r2 20.4 r2-s1 20.4 r2-s2 20.4 r3 20.4 r3-s1 20.4 r3-s2 20.4 r3-s3 20.4 r3-s4 21.1 21.1 r1 21.1 r1-s1 21.1 r2 21.1 r2-s1 21.1 r2-s2 21.1 r3 21.1 r3-s1 21.1 r3-s2 21.1 r3-s3 21.2 21.2 r1 21.2 r1-s1 21.2 r1-s2 21.2 r2 21.2 r2-s1 21.2 r2-s2 21.2 r3 21.2 r3-s1 21.2 r3-s2 21.2 r3-s3 21.3 21.3 r1 21.3 r1-s1 21.3 r1-s2 21.3 r2 21.3 r2-s1 21.3 r2-s2 21.3 r3 21.3 r3-s1 21.4 21.4 r1 21.4 r1-s1 21.4 r1-s2 21.4 r2 21.4 r2-s1 21.4 r2-s2 21.4 r3

Affected range stops below 20.4, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Affected range stops below 20.4R3-S5, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Affected range stops below 21.1R3-S4, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Affected range stops below 21.2R3-S4, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Affected range stops below 21.3R3-S3, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Affected range stops below 21.4R3-S1, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet. What the record does show:

Patch and advisory references

https://supportportal.juniper.net/JSA73158

References (1)

Vendor Advisory

Source: [email protected]

https://supportportal.juniper.net/JSA73158

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCNo known exploitNot automatableTotal impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

7.8HIGH[email protected]

Attack Vector: LOCAL
Complexity: LOW
Privileges: LOW
User Interaction: NONE
Scope: UNCHANGED
Confidentiality: HIGH
Integrity: HIGH
Availability: HIGH

Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED

CWE

CWE-276

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