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.

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Advisories

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Fixes

Solution

The following software releases have been updated to resolve this specific issue: 23.2R2-S7, 23.4R2-S6, 24.2R2-S3, 24.4R2-S2, 25.2R2, and all subsequent releases.


Workaround

To prevent exploitation, use access controls to keep users from performing 'file link' operations.

References
History

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 18:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Juniper
Juniper junos
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.2:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.2:r1-s1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.2:r1-s2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.2:r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.2:r2-s1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.2:r2-s2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.2:r2-s3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.2:r2-s4:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.2:r2-s5:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.2:r2-s6:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.2:r2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.4:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.4:r1-s1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.4:r1-s2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.4:r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.4:r2-s1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.4:r2-s2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.4:r2-s3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.4:r2-s4:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.4:r2-s5:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:23.4:r2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.2:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.2:r1-s1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.2:r1-s2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.2:r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.2:r2-s1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.2:r2-s2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.2:r2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.4:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.4:r1-s2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.4:r1-s3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.4:r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.4:r2-s1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:24.4:r2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:25.2:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:25.2:r1-s1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:25.2:r1-s2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:25.2:r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Juniper
Juniper junos

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 13:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Fri, 10 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Juniper Networks
Juniper Networks junos Os
Vendors & Products Juniper Networks
Juniper Networks junos Os

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 21:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description 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.
Title Junos OS: A low privileged user can escalate their privileges so that they can login as root
Weaknesses CWE-61
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

cvssV4_0

{'score': 7, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:L/AU:Y/R:U/RE:M'}


Projects

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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: juniper

Published:

Updated: 2026-04-13T13:04:16.395Z

Reserved: 2026-01-05T17:32:48.711Z

Link: CVE-2026-21916

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-04-13T13:00:23.659Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Analyzed

Published: 2026-04-09T22:16:24.953

Modified: 2026-04-17T18:05:52.693

Link: CVE-2026-21916

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-04-10T09:28:15Z

Weaknesses