CVE-2017-10615 : What You Need to Know

A vulnerability in the pluggable authentication module (PAM) of Juniper Networks Junos OS may allow an unauthenticated network-based attacker to potentially execute arbitrary code or crash daemons such as telnetd or sshd that make use of PAM. This CVE was published on October 11, 2017.

Understanding CVE-2017-10615

This CVE identifies a remote code execution vulnerability in Juniper Networks Junos OS.

What is CVE-2017-10615?

The vulnerability in the PAM of Junos OS could be exploited by an unauthenticated network-based attacker to execute arbitrary code or cause crashes in daemons like telnetd or sshd.

The Impact of CVE-2017-10615

The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 9.8 (Critical) with high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The attack complexity is low, and no privileges are required for exploitation.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-10615

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in the PAM of Junos OS allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or crash daemons using PAM.

Affected Systems and Versions

Junos OS 14.1 from 14.1R5 prior to 14.1R8-S4, 14.1R9
Junos OS 14.1X53 prior to 14.1X53-D50
Junos OS 14.2 from 14.2R3 prior to 14.2R7-S8, 14.2R8

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by an unauthenticated attacker on the network to execute arbitrary code or disrupt services.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2017-10615 with the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update to the fixed software releases: 14.1R8-S4, 14.1R9, 14.1X53-D50, 14.2R7-S8, 14.2R8, or later versions

Long-Term Security Practices

Limit access to critical infrastructure networking equipment
Disable unused services to reduce the attack surface

Patching and Updates

Ensure all systems are updated with the patched software releases