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.
Published: 2026-04-09
Score: 7 High
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: Privilege Escalation
Action: Immediate Patch
AI Analysis

Analysis and contextual insights are available on OpenCVE Cloud.

Remediation

Vendor 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.


Vendor Workaround

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

Tracking

Sign in to view the affected projects.

Advisories

No advisories yet.

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'}


Subscriptions

Juniper Junos
Juniper Networks Junos Os
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