Junos OS: A low privileged user can escalate their privileges so that they can login as root
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- Passive
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- None
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
A UNIX Symbolic Link (Symlink) Following vulnerability in the CLI of Juniper Networks Junos OS allows a local, authenticated attacker with low privileges to escalate their privileges to root which will lead to a complete compromise of the system. When after a user has performed a specific 'file link ...' CLI operation, another user commits (unrelated configuration changes), the first user can login as root. This issue affects Junos OS: * all versions before 23.2R2-S7, * 23.4 versions before 23.4R2-S6, * 24.2 versions before 24.2R2-S3, * 24.4 versions before 24.4R2-S2, * 25.2 versions before 25.2R2. This issue does not affect versions 25.4R1 or later.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Juniper | Junos OS | before 23.2R2-S7; 23.4 to before 23.4R2-S6; 24.2 to before 24.2R2-S3; 24.4 to before 24.4R2-S2; 25.2 to before 25.2R2 | 23.2R2-S7, 23.4R2-S6, 24.2R2-S3, 24.4R2-S2, 25.2R2, 25.4R1 | Patch available | CNA |
- Junos OS VendorJuniper Affected before 23.2R2-S7; 23.4 to before 23.4R2-S6; 24.2 to before 24.2R2-S3; 24.4 to before 24.4R2-S2; 25.2 to before 25.2R2 Fixed in 23.2R2-S7, 23.4R2-S6, 24.2R2-S3, 24.4R2-S2, 25.2R2, 25.4R1 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 39
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 23.2 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.2:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 23.2 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.2:r1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 23.2 r1 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.2:r1-s1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 23.2 r1-s1 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.2:r1-s2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 23.2 r1-s2 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.2:r2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 23.2 r2 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.2:r2-s1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 23.2 r2-s1 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.2:r2-s2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 23.2 r2-s2 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.2:r2-s3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 23.2 r2-s3 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.2:r2-s4:*:*:*:*:*:* | 23.2 r2-s4 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 23.2 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.2:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 23.2 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.2:r1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 23.2 r1 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.2:r1-s1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 23.2 r1-s1 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.2:r1-s2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 23.2 r1-s2 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.2:r2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 23.2 r2 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.2:r2-s1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 23.2 r2-s1 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.2:r2-s2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 23.2 r2-s2 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.2:r2-s3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 23.2 r2-s3 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.2:r2-s4:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 23.2 r2-s4 Vulnerable ·Juniper
Show 29 more CPE
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.2:r2-s5:*:*:*:*:*:* | 23.2 r2-s5 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.2:r2-s6:*:*:*:*:*:* | 23.2 r2-s6 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.4:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 23.4 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.4:r1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 23.4 r1 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.4:r1-s1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 23.4 r1-s1 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.4:r1-s2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 23.4 r1-s2 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.4:r2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 23.4 r2 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.4:r2-s1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 23.4 r2-s1 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.4:r2-s2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 23.4 r2-s2 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.4:r2-s3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 23.4 r2-s3 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.4:r2-s4:*:*:*:*:*:* | 23.4 r2-s4 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.4:r2-s5:*:*:*:*:*:* | 23.4 r2-s5 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.2:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 24.2 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.2:r1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 24.2 r1 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.2:r1-s1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 24.2 r1-s1 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.2:r1-s2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 24.2 r1-s2 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.2:r2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 24.2 r2 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.2:r2-s1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 24.2 r2-s1 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.2:r2-s2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 24.2 r2-s2 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.4:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 24.4 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.4:r1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 24.4 r1 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.4:r1-s2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 24.4 r1-s2 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.4:r1-s3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 24.4 r1-s3 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.4:r2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 24.4 r2 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.4:r2-s1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 24.4 r2-s1 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:25.2:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 25.2 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:25.2:r1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 25.2 r1 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:25.2:r1-s1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 25.2 r1-s1 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
| cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:25.2:r1-s2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 25.2 r1-s2 | Vulnerable | Juniper |
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.2:r2-s5:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 23.2 r2-s5 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.2:r2-s6:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 23.2 r2-s6 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.4:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 23.4 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.4:r1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 23.4 r1 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.4:r1-s1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 23.4 r1-s1 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.4:r1-s2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 23.4 r1-s2 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.4:r2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 23.4 r2 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.4:r2-s1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 23.4 r2-s1 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.4:r2-s2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 23.4 r2-s2 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.4:r2-s3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 23.4 r2-s3 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.4:r2-s4:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 23.4 r2-s4 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.4:r2-s5:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 23.4 r2-s5 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.2:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 24.2 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.2:r1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 24.2 r1 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.2:r1-s1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 24.2 r1-s1 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.2:r1-s2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 24.2 r1-s2 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.2:r2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 24.2 r2 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.2:r2-s1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 24.2 r2-s1 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.2:r2-s2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 24.2 r2-s2 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.4:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 24.4 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.4:r1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 24.4 r1 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.4:r1-s2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 24.4 r1-s2 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.4:r1-s3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 24.4 r1-s3 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.4:r2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 24.4 r2 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.4:r2-s1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 24.4 r2-s1 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:25.2:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 25.2 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:25.2:r1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 25.2 r1 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:25.2:r1-s1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 25.2 r1-s1 Vulnerable ·Juniper
- cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:25.2:r1-s2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 25.2 r1-s2 Vulnerable ·Juniper
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Junos OS (Juniper Networks) Fixed in 23.2R2-S7, 23.4R2-S6, 24.2R2-S3, 24.4R2-S2, 25.2R2, 25.4R1
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-21916
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-x5g9-73r3-vh5h
References
Advisory 1
More Juniper Junos vulnerabilities
- TI-2023-18638 Junos OS: EX and SRX Series: A PHP vulnerability in J-Web allows an unauthenticated to… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2020-01585 Out of Cycle Security Advisory: Junos OS: Security vulnerability in J-Web and web based (HTTP/HTTPS) services KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2015-04610 Assertion failure in ISC BIND named via TKEY queries KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2025-15550 Junos OS: An local attacker with shell access can execute arbitrary code KEVCVSS 4.0MEDIUM 6.7
- TI-2023-18644 Junos OS: SRX Series: A vulnerability in J-Web allows an unauthenticated attacker to upload and download arbitrary files KEVCVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.3
- TI-2023-18640 Junos OS: EX Series: A vulnerability in J-Web allows an unauthenticated attacker to upload arbitrary files KEVCVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.3
Sources
- CVE-2026-21916 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-21916 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-x5g9-73r3-vh5h · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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