What is CVE-2023-28972?A medium-severity flaw in Junos, explained.
CVE-2023-28972 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 6.8) in Junos from Juniper, published on 17 April 2023. It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts its chance of use in the next 30 days at 0.4%. If you run an affected version, plan in the vendor’s fix.
Published 17 April 2023. Record last updated 28 April 2023. We keep this page's data up to date.
What is CVE-2023-28972? In plain terms.
An attacker has to be physically at the device without logging in, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can read data, change data and take it offline.
An Improper Link Resolution Before File Access vulnerability in console port access of Juniper Networks Junos OS on NFX Series allows an attacker to bypass console access controls. When "set system ports console insecure" is enabled, root login is disallowed for Junos OS as expected. However, the root password can be changed using "set system root-authentication plain-text-password" on NFX Series systems, leading to a possible administrative bypass with physical access to the console. Password recovery, changing the root password from a console, should not have been allowed from an insecure console. This is similar to the vulnerability described in CVE-2019-0035 but affects different platforms and in turn requires a different fix. This issue affects Juniper Networks Junos OS on NFX Series: 19.2 versions prior to 19.2R3-S7; 19.3 versions prior to 19.3R3-S8; 19.4 versions prior to 19.4R3-S12; 20.2 versions prior to 20.2R3-S8; 20.4 versions prior to 20.4R3-S7; 21.1 versions prior to 21.1R3-S5; 21.2 versions prior to 21.2R3-S4; 21.3 versions prior to 21.3R3-S3; 21.4 versions prior to 21.4R3-S2; 22.1 versions prior to 22.1R3-S1; 22.2 versions prior to 22.2R2-S1, 22.2R3; 22.3 versions prior to 22.3R1-S2, 22.3R2.
What kind of flaw is it?
- CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
How an attack on it works
Read straight from its severity rating, translated out of the shorthand.
- Where an attacker can bePhysically at the device
- How hard it is to pull offEasy: no special conditions
- Login needed firstNo login needed
- Does someone have to clickNo, nobody has to do anything
- What an attacker getsCan read data, change data and take it offline
Severity vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Is CVE-2023-28972 being exploited? Not that we know of.
It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 0.4%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching.
Timeline
- Published
- Record last updated
CVE-2023-28972 scores 21. Action: Monitor.
We keep the score of every published flaw up to date as the evidence changes. Four things go into the score, and evidence that criminals are actually using it counts most. In order:
- Evidence it is being exploitedBiggest factor
- How severe it isStrong factor
- How widely exposed it isSmaller factor
- Threat activity around itSmaller factor
85 and above is Critical. Anything confirmed as exploited is always marked for an emergency patch, whatever its score.
When CVE-2023-28972 matches software you track, it lands in your list with its score and the reasons behind it.
See your own ranked list →Who is affected by CVE-2023-28972? 4 products.
The published record lists 4 products from 1 vendor. If you run one of these, check your version, then go to the fix below.
- Operating system
Junos
by Juniper
Affected versions19.219.2-r119.2-r1-s119.2-r1-s219.2-r1-s319.2-r1-s419.2-r1-s519.2-r1-s619.2-r1-s719.2-r1-s819.2-r1-s919.2-r219.2-r2-s119.2-r3 - Hardware
Nfx150
by Juniper
Affected versionsversion not specified - Hardware
Nfx250
by Juniper
Affected versionsversion not specified - Hardware
Nfx350
by Juniper
Affected versionsversion not specified
How do I fix CVE-2023-28972? Four steps.
- Check whether you run itCompare your versions with the affected products above. Not sure what you run? Precursor Intelligence can work it out from your public website, or you can pick it from a list.
- Apply the vendor’s fixInstall the update named in the vendor’s advisory. We’ve put the advisory first in the list.
- If you can’t patch todayFollow any mitigation the vendor publishes, and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet until the update is in.
- Keep an eye on itTrack the product and we tell you as soon as we spot this flaw on the list of exploited flaws, or a jump in its exploit likelihood.
References
1 linkDoes CVE-2023-28972 affect you? We'll keep checking.
Looking flaws up one at a time doesn't scale. Tell us what you run once, and we tell you which flaws matter to you, in what order, and keep watching for new ones.
- Tell us what you runPick your software from a list, or let us work it out from your website.
- We match it to every flawOver 400,000 published flaws, checked against your list.
- Ranked by real-world riskA 0 to 100 score, led by evidence criminals are using it.
- Told as soon as we knowAn alert by email, in the app or by webhook to your own tools.
Free plan, no card needed. Nothing to install.
1 new flaw affects software Acme tracks
An Improper Link Resolution Before File Access vulnerability in console port access of Juniper Networks Junos OS on NFX Series allows an attacker to bypass c...
- Matched to
- Junos on Acme's software list
- What to do
- Plan in the vendor’s update
Sent to the alert recipients Acme chose. Also in the app and to Acme's webhook.
CVE-2023-28972 is a medium-severity flaw in Junos from Juniper, published on 17 April 2023. An attacker has to be physically at the device without logging in, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can read data, change data and take it offline.
It scores 6.8 out of 10 on the CVSS severity scale, which is medium. Our risk score for CVE-2023-28972 is 21 out of 100, which is Low. Its action is "Monitor". No sign of exploitation and a low forecast. Patch it in your normal update cycle.
It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 0.4%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching.
For Junos from Juniper: 19.2, 19.2-r1, 19.2-r1-s1, 19.2-r1-s2, 19.2-r1-s3, 19.2-r1-s4 and 143 more. The record lists 4 products in all, each with its versions, under "Who is affected" on this page.
Install the update the vendor names in its advisory, linked first under "How do I fix" on this page. If you can't patch today, follow the vendor's mitigation and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet.