CVE-2023-28978
Juniper Junos Os Evolved ≤ 20.4
Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:NSummary
CVE-2023-28978 is a medium-severity Initialization of a Resource with an Insecure Default (CWE-1188) vulnerability in Juniper Junos Os Evolved. Its CVSS base score is 5.3 (Medium).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Default Accounts (T1078.001); ranked at the 38th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2023-32596
Vulnerability Data
An Insecure Default Initialization of Resource vulnerability in Juniper Networks Junos OS Evolved allows an unauthenticated, network based attacker to read certain confidential information. In the default configuration it is possible to read confidential information about locally configured (administrative) users…
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of the affected system. This issue affects Juniper Networks Junos OS Evolved: All versions prior to 20.4R3-S7-EVO on pending commit???; 21.1-EVO versions prior to 21.1R3-S4-EVO on awaiting build; 21.4-EVO versions prior to 21.4R3-S1-EVO; 22.2-EVO versions prior to 22.2R3-EVO; 21.2-EVO versions prior to 21.2R3-S5-EVO on pending commit???; 21.3-EVO version 21.3R1-EVO and later versions; 22.1-EVO version 22.1R1-EVO and later versions; 22.2-EVO versions prior to 22.2R2-S1-EVO.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Control response
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- 13 hardening rules · 7 OS baselines
V14.3.2V6.3.2V11.3.1V13.2.3
Likely Mitigating Controls AI
Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.
Requires documented secure initialization practices and avoidance of insecure defaults in configuration baselines.
Reviewing and updating baseline when components are installed or upgraded prevents initialization with insecure defaults.
Requiring explicit configuration to minimal functionality overrides insecure defaults that would otherwise enable excess capabilities.
Tailoring replaces or augments insecure default initializations with system-specific values and compensating controls before deployment.
Central configuration overrides or replaces insecure default initializations that would otherwise be left unchanged on each system.
SCRM practices during acquisition and configuration management address insecure default initializations shipped by vendors.
Scans detect resources initialized with insecure defaults that create exploitable conditions.
Instruction on secure initialization of security controls prevents leaving resources with insecure defaults after installation.
Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Hardened baselines and configuration management directly replace insecure defaults with secure settings.
Secure development practices include designing products with secure defaults rather than insecure ones.
Pre-acquisition integrity checks can reject products known to ship with insecure defaults.
Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Mandating secure baseline templates and immediate replacement of vendor defaults directly stops systems from being deployed with insecure factory settings that attackers can exploit.
Requiring documented specification, testing, and acceptance of changes ensures that new or modified components are not initialized with insecure default settings that would otherwise be left in production.
Requiring suppliers to document secure configuration and implemented security functions reduces the likelihood that products will be initialised with insecure default settings.
Hardening callouts derived
Configuration rules from DISA STIG baselines that bear on weaknesses of the type cited by this CVE. Each rule is shown with the relationship its mapping actually records, against the CWE it was authored against. Derived via CVE→CWE over `controls_xwalks` (authoritative rows only; rows rated `none` are excluded).
Oracle Linux 8 (1 rule)
- V-248823 OL 8 must not have the telnet-server package installed. prevents CWE-1188
RHEL 7 (1 rule)
- V-204627 SNMP community strings on the Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating system must be changed from the default. prevents CWE-1188
Ubuntu 22.04 (1 rule)
- V-260529 Ubuntu 22.04 LTS must be configured so that remote X connections are disabled, unless to fulfill documented and validated mission requirements. prevents CWE-1188
Ubuntu 24.04 (1 rule)
- V-270708 Ubuntu 24.04 LTS must be configured so that remote X connections are disabled, unless to fulfill documented and validated mission requirements. prevents CWE-1188
Windows Server 2016 (1 rule)
- V-224972 Active Directory Group Policy objects must have proper access control permissions. prevents CWE-1188
Windows Server 2019 (1 rule)
- V-205741 Windows Server 2019 Active Directory Group Policy objects must have proper access control permissions. prevents CWE-1188