CVE-2021-0253Public exploit

Root command execution via unsanitized JDMD parameters

Published Apr 22, 2021 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Command injection in JDMD in Juniper Networks Junos OS on affected NFX Series releases allows local users to execute commands as root. JDMD concatenates CLI or NETCONF-supplied VNF names into XML and passes them as script parameters through popen(), allowing shell metacharacters to alter the command. A low-privileged management-plane account is required; successful exploitation grants full host privileges through JDMD's root container.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.55%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Command injection in JDMD in Juniper Networks Junos OS on affected NFX Series releases allows local users to execute commands as root. JDMD concatenates CLI or NETCONF-supplied VNF names into XML and passes them as script parameters through popen(), allowing shell metacharacters to alter the command. A low-privileged management-plane account is required; successful exploitation grants full host privileges through JDMD's root container.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-0253
Published
Apr 22, 2021
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
Juniper Networks
Product
Junos OS
Classifications
CWE-77, T1059.004, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 22, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=17.2R1 <17.2*
  2. Affected versionversion=18.4 <18.4R2-S5, 18.4R3-S5
  3. Affected versionversion=19.1 <19.1R1-S3
  4. Affected versionversion=19.1R2 <19.2* changes=[{"at":"19.2R3","status":"unaffected"}]
  5. Affected versionversion=19.3 <19.3R3
  6. Affected versionversion=19.4 <19.4R2-S2 changes=[{"at":"19.4R3","status":"affected"}]
  7. Affected versionversion=unspecified <18.3R3-S4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Juniper Networks · Junos OSversion=17.2R1 <17.2*; version=18.4 <18.4R2-S5, 18.4R3-S5; version=19.1 <19.1R1-S3; version=19.1R2 <19.2* changes=[{"at":"19.2R3","status":"unaffected"}]; version=19.3 <19.3R3; version=19.4 <19.4R2-S2 changes=[{"at":"19.4R3","status":"affected"}]; version=unspecified <18.3R3-S4

Published CVSS scores

7.8Juniper NetworksCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.6NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-77Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
T1059.004Unix Shell
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo