CVE-2023-36845Known exploitationPublic exploitNetwork attack vector

Unauthenticated code execution via PHPRC manipulation

Published Aug 17, 2023 · Updated Oct 21, 2025

PHP external variable modification in Juniper Networks Junos OS J-Web allows remote attackers to execute code through crafted HTTP requests. J-Web accepts the PHPRC query variable and makes PHP read configuration directives from request-body stdin, enabling auto_prepend_file and an inline data payload. No authentication is required, but J-Web must be enabled and network-reachable; successful exploitation runs code inside the device's restricted FreeBSD jail.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability95.07%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationReported
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

PHP external variable modification in Juniper Networks Junos OS J-Web allows remote attackers to execute code through crafted HTTP requests. J-Web accepts the PHPRC query variable and makes PHP read configuration directives from request-body stdin, enabling auto_prepend_file and an inline data payload. No authentication is required, but J-Web must be enabled and network-reachable; successful exploitation runs code inside the device's restricted FreeBSD jail.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-36845
Published
Aug 17, 2023
Updated
Oct 21, 2025
Vendor
Juniper Networks
Product
Junos OS
Classifications
CWE-473, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 17, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 21, 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=0 <20.4R3-S9
  2. Affected versionversion=21.1 <21.1*
  3. Affected versionversion=21.2 <21.2R3-S7
  4. Affected versionversion=21.3 <21.3R3-S5
  5. Affected versionversion=21.4 <21.4R3-S5
  6. Affected versionversion=22.1 <22.1R3-S4
  7. Affected versionversion=22.2 <22.2R3-S2
  8. Affected versionversion=22.3 <22.3R2-S2, 22.3R3-S1
  9. Affected versionversion=22.4 <22.4R2-S1, 22.4R3
  10. Affected versionversion=23,2 <23.2R1-S1, 23.2R2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Juniper Networks · Junos OSversion=0 <20.4R3-S9; version=21.1 <21.1*; version=21.2 <21.2R3-S7; version=21.3 <21.3R3-S5; version=21.4 <21.4R3-S5; version=22.1 <22.1R3-S4; version=22.2 <22.2R3-S2; version=22.3 <22.3R2-S2, 22.3R3-S1; version=22.4 <22.4R2-S1, 22.4R3; version=23,2 <23.2R1-S1, 23.2R2

Published CVSS scores

9.8Juniper NetworksCVSS:3.1/AV:N/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.

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

No observations available

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-473PHP External Variable Modification
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

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

Reported exploitation

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