CVE-2023-28966

Root command execution via writable system files

Published Apr 17, 2023 · Updated Feb 6, 2025

Incorrect default permissions in Juniper Networks Junos OS Evolved allow local users with shell access to execute commands as root. Certain system files and directories are writable by low-privileged accounts, permitting injected CLI commands to run with root privileges. The attack requires local shell access and allows modification of existing files or complete compromise of the device.

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

What happened

Incorrect default permissions in Juniper Networks Junos OS Evolved allow local users with shell access to execute commands as root. Certain system files and directories are writable by low-privileged accounts, permitting injected CLI commands to run with root privileges. The attack requires local shell access and allows modification of existing files or complete compromise of the device.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-28966
Published
Apr 17, 2023
Updated
Feb 6, 2025
Vendor
Juniper Networks
Product
Junos OS Evolved
Classifications
CWE-276, T1548
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 17, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 6, 2025Record 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=21.2 <21.2R3-EVO
  2. Affected versionversion=21.3 <21.3R2-EVO
  3. Affected versionversion=unspecified <20.4R3-S5-EVO

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Juniper Networks · Junos OS Evolvedversion=21.2 <21.2R3-EVO; version=21.3 <21.3R2-EVO; version=unspecified <20.4R3-S5-EVO

Published CVSS scores

7.8Juniper NetworksCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-276Incorrect Default Permissions
T1548Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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