CVE-2023-28971 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE-2023-28971 pertains to an Improper Restriction of Communication Channel to Intended Endpoints vulnerability in Juniper Networks Paragon Active Assurance (PAA) related to the timescaledb feature.

Understanding CVE-2023-28971

This vulnerability in Juniper Networks Paragon Active Assurance allows attackers to bypass firewall rules and restrictions intended to limit internal communications, impacting the Test Agents (TA) Appliance connecting to the Control Center (CC) using OpenVPN.

What is CVE-2023-28971?

The vulnerability arises when the timescaledb feature is utilized, causing side-effects that circumvent existing firewall rules for Test Agent communications. This issue affects on-premises Control Centers running versions of Juniper Networks Paragon Active Assurance prior to 4.1.2.

The Impact of CVE-2023-28971

The vulnerability can allow attackers to evade firewall limitations and potentially compromise communication channels within the affected systems, leading to unauthorized access and security breaches.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-28971

This vulnerability, identified under CWE-923, has a CVSSv3.1 base score of 7.2, indicating a high severity level.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability enables attackers to bypass internal communication restrictions intended to secure Test Agent communications to the Control Center when utilizing the timescaledb feature.

Affected Systems and Versions

Juniper Networks Paragon Active Assurance versions prior to 4.1.2 running on on-premises Control Centers are affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by leveraging the timescaledb feature, bypassing firewall rules and limitations set for Test Agent communications.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-28971, certain immediate steps and long-term security practices can be implemented.

Immediate Steps to Take

If the timescaledb feature is not used, it is recommended to disable the service and IP forwarding to prevent exploitation.
For systems actively utilizing the timescaledb feature, configuring the system to drop forwarded packets by adjusting the default forward policy is advised.

Long-Term Security Practices

Ensuring timely software updates and implementing robust security measures can help prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future. Regular security audits and monitoring network activities are also essential for maintaining system integrity.

Patching and Updates

Juniper Networks has released software updates to address this vulnerability. Users are advised to upgrade to fixed versions, including 4.1.2, 4.2.0, and any subsequent releases to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-28971.