CVE-2026-21916

Junos OS: A low privileged user can escalate their privileges so that they can login as root

Published Apr 9, 2026 CVSS 4.0 · 7 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
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.

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 available
References
History
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
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

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

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

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
juniper
Published
Updated
Apr 13, 2026, 1:04 PM
Reserved
Jan 5, 2026, 5:32 PM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Apr 9, 2026, 10:16 PM
Modified
Oct 26, 2026, 9:10 PM