# CVE-2018-0044: NFX Series: Insecure sshd configuration in Juniper Device Manager (JDM) and host OS

> Remote attackers can gain unauthenticated access to Juniper NFX devices if any system password is empty due to insecure SSH configuration.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 10 Oct 2018
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-72j4-qp7m-qxcr

## What is CVE-2018-0044?

CVE-2018-0044 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Juniper Junos, published on 10 Oct 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

An insecure SSHD configuration in Juniper Device Manager (JDM) and host OS on Juniper NFX Series devices may allow remote unauthenticated access if any of the passwords on the system are empty. The affected SSHD configuration has the PermitEmptyPasswords option set to "yes". Affected releases are Juniper Networks Junos OS: 18.1 versions prior to 18.1R4 on NFX Series.

Weakness: CWE-287 (Improper Authentication)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-0044?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Juniper Junos.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-0044?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-0044 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-0044 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-0044 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-2018-0044 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-0044 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Juniper Junos, published on 10 Oct 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-0044 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-2018-0044/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-0044/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-0044
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-0044
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-0044

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-0044/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.