CVE-2018-0052 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

Enabling RSH service on Junos OS without PAM authentication can lead to a severe vulnerability allowing remote attackers to gain root access to the device. This CVE affects various Junos OS versions across different Juniper Networks platforms.

Understanding CVE-2018-0052

What is CVE-2018-0052?

Enabling RSH service without PAM authentication on Junos OS can result in unauthenticated remote root access, posing a significant security risk.

The Impact of CVE-2018-0052

Enabling RSH service without PAM authentication allows remote attackers to gain root access to the device, potentially leading to unauthorized control and data compromise.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-0052

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises when RSH service is enabled without PAM authentication, exposing the system to unauthenticated root access.

Affected Systems and Versions

SRX Series: 12.1X46-D77, 12.3X48-D75, 15.1X49-D131, 15.1X49-D140
QFX/EX Series: 14.1X53-D47
EX2300/EX3400 Series: 15.1X53-D59
QFX10K Series: 15.1X53-D67
QFX5200/QFX5110 Series: 15.1X53-D233
NFX Series: 15.1X53-D471, 15.1X53-D490

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability allows attackers to exploit the RSH service on port 514, gaining unauthorized root access. However, platforms based on FreeBSD 10 or later are not vulnerable.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Ensure RSH service is not listening on port 514
Implement security best practices to restrict access to trusted systems

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update Junos OS to patched versions
Enforce strict access controls and authentication mechanisms

Patching and Updates

Juniper has removed the CLI option in fixed Junos releases
Update to the following fixed software releases and subsequent versions: 12.1X46-D77, 12.3R12-S10, 12.3X48-D75, 14.1X53-D47, 15.1R4-S9, 15.1R6-S6, 15.1R7, and more