Root backdoor creation via writable system directory
Published Oct 12, 2023 · Updated Feb 27, 2025
Incorrect default permissions in affected Juniper Networks Junos OS releases allow local users to create a root-privileged backdoor. A system directory ships with permissions that let an unauthenticated local user write the files needed to establish persistent root access. Physical or existing local access to the device is required; the published record does not identify the directory or disclose a safe read-only indicator.
Summary
What happened
Incorrect default permissions in affected Juniper Networks Junos OS releases allow local users to create a root-privileged backdoor. A system directory ships with permissions that let an unauthenticated local user write the files needed to establish persistent root access. Physical or existing local access to the device is required; the published record does not identify the directory or disclose a safe read-only indicator.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-44194
- Published
- Oct 12, 2023
- Updated
- Feb 27, 2025
- Vendor
- Juniper Networks
- Product
- Junos OS
- Classifications
- CWE-276, T1548
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Oct 12, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Feb 27, 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.
- Affected versionversion=0 <20.4R3-S5
- Affected versionversion=21.1 <21.1R3-S4
- Affected versionversion=21.2 <21.2R3-S4
- Affected versionversion=21.3 <21.3R3-S3
- Affected versionversion=21.4 <21.4R3-S1
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
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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