# CVE-2017-10603: Junos OS: Local XML Injection through CLI command can lead to privilege escalation

> A local authenticated user can exploit an XML injection flaw in the Junos OS CLI to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary commands as root.

- **Severity:** High 7.0 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 14 Jul 2017
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-62hx-72qc-gr7j

## What is CVE-2017-10603?

CVE-2017-10603 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Juniper Junos, published on 14 Jul 2017. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

An XML injection vulnerability in Junos OS CLI can allow a locally authenticated user to elevate privileges and run arbitrary commands as the root user. This issue was found during internal product security testing. Affected releases are Juniper Networks Junos OS 15.1X53 prior to 15.1X53-D47, 15.1 prior to 15.1R3. Junos versions prior to 15.1 are not affected. No other Juniper Networks products or platforms are affected by this issue.

Weakness: CWE-91 (XML Injection)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-10603?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Juniper Junos.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-10603?

No fix has been published for CVE-2017-10603 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2017-10603 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-10603 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Juniper Junos

- [CVE-2023-36845](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-36845/): Juniper Junos OS EX Series and SRX Series PHP External Variable Modification (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-1631](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-1631/): Juniper Junos OS Path Traversal (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-21590](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-21590/): Juniper Junos OS Improper Isolation or Compartmentalization (medium 6.7, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2023-36851](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-36851/): Juniper Junos OS SRX Series Missing Authentication for Critical Function (medium 5.3, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2023-36844](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-36844/): Juniper Junos OS EX Series PHP External Variable Modification (medium 5.3, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-10603 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-10603 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Juniper Junos, published on 14 Jul 2017. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-10603 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Juniper Junos. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-10603/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-10603/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-10603
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-10603
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-10603

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-10603/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.