# CVE-2021-0245: Hardcoded credentials in Junos OS

> Hard-coded credentials on Junos Fusion satellite devices allow local attackers to elevate privileges and take control of the device.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/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:** 22 Apr 2021
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-r5j6-85w2-f95v

## What is CVE-2021-0245?

CVE-2021-0245 is a high-severity vulnerability in Juniper Junos, published on 22 Apr 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A Use of Hard-coded Credentials vulnerability in Juniper Networks Junos OS on Junos Fusion satellite devices allows an attacker who is local to the device to elevate their privileges and take control of the device. This issue affects: Juniper Networks Junos OS Junos Fusion Satellite Devices. 16.1 versions prior to 16.1R7-S7; 17.1 versions prior to 17.1R2-S12, 17.1R3-S2; 17.2 versions prior to 17.2R3-S4; 17.3 versions prior to 17.3R3-S8; 17.4 versions prior to 17.4R2-S10; 17.4 version 17.4R3 and later versions; 18.1 versions prior to 18.1R3-S10; 18.2 versions prior to 18.2R2-S7, 18.2R3-S3; 18.3 versions prior to 18.3R1-S7, 18.3R2-S4, 18.3R3-S2; 18.4 versions prior to 18.4R1-S6, 18.4R2-S4, 18.4R3-S1; 19.1 versions prior to 19.1R1-S5, 19.1R2-S1, 19.1R3; 19.2 versions prior to 19.2R1-S4, 19.2R2; 19.3 versions prior to 19.3R2-S5, 19.3R3; 19.4 versions prior to 19.4R1-S1, 19.4R2; 20.1 versions prior to 20.1R1-S1, 20.1R2. This issue does not affected Junos OS releases prior to 16.1R1 or all 19.2R3 and 19.4R3 release versions.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-0245?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Juniper Junos.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-0245?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-0245 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-0245 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-0245 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-2021-0245 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-0245 is a high-severity vulnerability in Juniper Junos, published on 22 Apr 2021. 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-2021-0245 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-2021-0245/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-0245/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-0245
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-0245
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-0245

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-0245/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.
