CVE-2023-28972

Root account takeover via insecure console recovery

Published Apr 17, 2023 · Updated Feb 26, 2025

Improper link resolution in Juniper Networks Junos OS on NFX Series allows physically proximate attackers to bypass console controls. When the console is configured as insecure, password recovery still accepts set system root-authentication plain-text-password and changes the root password despite the intended root-login restriction. Physical console access and the insecure-console setting are required; successful exploitation grants control of the root account.

CVSS severity6.8
Medium
EPSS probability0.37%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper link resolution in Juniper Networks Junos OS on NFX Series allows physically proximate attackers to bypass console controls. When the console is configured as insecure, password recovery still accepts set system root-authentication plain-text-password and changes the root password despite the intended root-login restriction. Physical console access and the insecure-console setting are required; successful exploitation grants control of the root account.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-28972
Published
Apr 17, 2023
Updated
Feb 26, 2025
Vendor
Juniper Networks
Product
Junos OS
Classifications
CWE-59, T1098
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 17, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 26, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=19.2 <19.2R3-S7
  2. Affected versionversion=19.3 <19.3R3-S8
  3. Affected versionversion=19.4 <19.4R3-S12
  4. Affected versionversion=20.2 <20.2R3-S8
  5. Affected versionversion=20.4 <20.4R3-S7
  6. Affected versionversion=21.1 <21.1R3-S5
  7. Affected versionversion=21.2 <21.2R3-S4
  8. Affected versionversion=21.3 <21.3R3-S3
  9. Affected versionversion=21.4 <21.4R3-S2
  10. Affected versionversion=22.1 <22.1R3-S1
  11. Affected versionversion=22.2 <22.2R2-S1, 22.2R3
  12. Affected versionversion=22.3 <22.3R1-S2, 22.3R2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorphysical
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Juniper Networks · Junos OSversion=19.2 <19.2R3-S7; version=19.3 <19.3R3-S8; version=19.4 <19.4R3-S12; version=20.2 <20.2R3-S8; version=20.4 <20.4R3-S7; version=21.1 <21.1R3-S5; version=21.2 <21.2R3-S4; version=21.3 <21.3R3-S3; version=21.4 <21.4R3-S2; version=22.1 <22.1R3-S1; version=22.2 <22.2R2-S1, 22.2R3; version=22.3 <22.3R1-S2, 22.3R2

Published CVSS scores

6.8Juniper Networks, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/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.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorphysical
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
T1098Account Manipulation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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