# CVE-2020-1615: Junos OS: vMX: Default credentials supplied in vMX configuration

> Attackers can gain unauthorized root access to Juniper vMX instances using default factory credentials if administrators fail to change them.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/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:** 8 Apr 2020
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-f8jp-46hx-mw9r

## What is CVE-2020-1615?

CVE-2020-1615 is a critical vulnerability in Juniper Junos, published on 8 Apr 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The factory configuration for vMX installations, as shipped, includes default credentials for the root account. Without proper modification of these default credentials by the administrator, an attacker could exploit these credentials and access the vMX instance without authorization. This issue affects Juniper Networks Junos OS: 17.1 versions prior to 17.1R2-S11, 17.1R3-S2 on vMX; 17.2 versions prior to 17.2R3-S3 on vMX; 17.3 versions prior to 17.3R2-S5, 17.3R3-S7 on vMX; 17.4 versions prior to 17.4R2-S9, 17.4R3 on vMX; 18.1 versions prior to 18.1R3-S9 on vMX; 18.2 versions prior to 18.2R2-S7, 18.2R3-S3 on vMX; 18.2X75 versions prior to 18.2X75-D420, 18.2X75-D60 on vMX; 18.3 versions prior to 18.3R1-S7, 18.3R2-S3, 18.3R3-S1 on vMX; 18.4 versions prior to 18.4R1-S5, 18.4R2-S3, 18.4R3 on vMX; 19.1 versions prior to 19.1R1-S4, 19.1R2, 19.1R3 on vMX; 19.2 versions prior to 19.2R1-S3, 19.2R2 on vMX; 19.3 versions prior to 19.3R1-S1, 19.3R2 on vMX.

Weakness: CWE-798 (Use of Hard-coded Credentials)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-1615?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Juniper Junos.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-1615?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-1615 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-1615 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-1615 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-2020-1615 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-1615 is a critical vulnerability in Juniper Junos, published on 8 Apr 2020. 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-2020-1615 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-2020-1615/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-1615/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-1615
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-1615
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-1615

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-1615/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.