CVE-2023-28978 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE record discusses a vulnerability in Juniper Networks Junos OS Evolved that allows an unauthenticated, network-based attacker to access specific confidential information about locally configured users of the affected system.

Understanding CVE-2023-28978

This section delves into the details of CVE-2023-28978 and its impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-28978?

The vulnerability lies in an insecure default initialization of resources within Juniper Networks Junos OS Evolved. Attackers can exploit this flaw to read confidential information about administrative users on the affected system.

The Impact of CVE-2023-28978

The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 5.3, categorizing it as a medium severity issue. Although the confidentiality impact is low, the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive user information is concerning.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-28978

Understanding the vulnerability's description, affected systems, versions, and exploitation mechanism is crucial in addressing CVE-2023-28978 effectively.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to access confidential user information on Juniper Networks Junos OS Evolved systems.

Affected Systems and Versions

Versions prior to 20.4R3-S7-EVO, 21.1-EVO, 21.4-EVO, 22.2-EVO, 21.2-EVO, 21.3-EVO, 22.1-EVO, and 22.2-EVO are vulnerable to this issue.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability over the network without needing any special privileges, making it a concerning security risk.

Mitigation and Prevention

Taking immediate steps to mitigate the CVE-2023-28978 vulnerability and implementing long-term security practices is essential to safeguard affected systems and prevent unauthorized access.

Immediate Steps to Take

As there are no known workarounds, limiting access to the device from trusted administrative networks through access lists or firewall filters can help reduce the risk of exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regular security audits, network monitoring, and access control reviews can enhance the overall security posture and mitigate similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

To address CVE-2023-28978, users are advised to update their Juniper Networks Junos OS Evolved software to the fixed versions: 20.4R3-S7-EVO, 21.1R3-S4-EVO, 21.2R3-S5-EVO, 21.4R3-S1-EVO, 22.2R2-EVO, 22.3R1-EVO, and all subsequent releases.