{"id":"CVE-2015-7755","published":"2015-12-19T14:59:01Z","modified":"2026-06-17T00:33:04Z","title":"Juniper ScreenOS Improper Authentication Vulnerability","vendor":"Juniper","product":"ScreenOS","tier":"core","eol":null,"description":{"text":"Juniper ScreenOS 6.2.0r15 through 6.2.0r18, 6.3.0r12 before 6.3.0r12b, 6.3.0r13 before 6.3.0r13b, 6.3.0r14 before 6.3.0r14b, 6.3.0r15 before 6.3.0r15b, 6.3.0r16 before 6.3.0r16b, 6.3.0r17 before 6.3.0r17b, 6.3.0r18 before 6.3.0r18b, 6.3.0r19 before 6.3.0r19b, and 6.3.0r20 before 6.3.0r21 allows remote attackers to obtain administrative access by entering an unspecified password during a (1) SSH or (2) TELNET session.","provenance":"source","from":"NVD"},"summary":{"text":"Juniper ScreenOS versions 6.2.0r15 through 6.2.0r18 and several 6.3.0 builds contain an improper authentication flaw in the SSH and TELNET login handling. An attacker can obtain administrative access by entering an unspecified password during an SSH or TELNET session, requiring only network access to the device and no prior authentication or user interaction.","provenance":"ai","model":"claude-haiku-5-5","generatedAt":"2026-10-23T07:10:00Z"},"cvss":{"score":9.8,"severity":"CRITICAL","version":"3.1","vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H","provenance":"source","from":"NVD"},"epss":{"score":0.61139,"percentile":0.99157,"date":"2026-10-28","provenance":"source"},"kev":{"dateAdded":"2025-10-02","dueDate":"2025-10-23","ransomware":false,"requiredAction":"Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.","notes":"https://supportportal.juniper.net/s/article/2015-12-Out-of-Cycle-Security-Bulletin-ScreenOS-Multiple-Security-issues-with-ScreenOS-CVE-2015-7755-CVE-2015-7756 ; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-7755","provenance":"source"},"vulncheckKev":{"dateAdded":"2015-12-23","exploitedFirstSeen":"2015-12-23","ransomware":false,"evidence":[{"url":"https://securityaffairs.com/42983/hacking/juniper-backdoor-attacks-honeypot.html","date":"2015-12-23"},{"url":"https://www.tripwire.com/state-of-security/doubledoor-iot-botnet-abuses-two-vulnerabilities-to-circumvent-firewalls-modems","date":"2018-02-14"},{"url":"https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/feeds/known_exploited_vulnerabilities.json","date":"2025-10-02"},{"url":"https://cyble.com/resources/research-reports/global-cybersecurity-report/","date":"2025-12-11"},{"url":"https://www.loginsoft.com/reports/annually/vulnerability-intelligence-report-2025","date":"2026-01-20"}],"evidenceTotal":5,"provenance":"source"},"exploited":true,"otx":{"pulseCount":50,"pulses":[{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 29, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6ae20c1db17e7057ae7d9ad1","created":"2026-10-28"},{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 28, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6ae0ba7e0e2a97ff7b218819","created":"2026-10-27"},{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 27, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6adf68b85c3e852f3c111d18","created":"2026-10-26"},{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 24, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6adb740e397c3ad4799aa4cd","created":"2026-10-23"},{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 23, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6ada236fcfba2dfa730ea482","created":"2026-10-22"},{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 22, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6ad8d33a077cbb5cab524d80","created":"2026-10-21"},{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 21, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6ad78130c4d1ac2be83a8b6d","created":"2026-10-20"},{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 20, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6ad62f63c24a405a3423cc13","created":"2026-10-19"},{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 19, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6ad4dda174e5797d0bd238b7","created":"2026-10-18"},{"name":"Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 18, 2026","url":"https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/6ad38c22e1848f8189d1c121","created":"2026-10-17"}],"provenance":"machine"},"cwes":[{"id":"CWE-287","name":"Improper Authentication"}],"references":[{"url":"http://arstechnica.com/security/2015/12/unauthorized-code-in-juniper-firewalls-decrypts-encrypted-vpn-traffic/","tags":["Third Party Advisory"]},{"url":"http://kb.juniper.net/InfoCenter/index?page=content&id=JSA10713","tags":["Exploit","Vendor Advisory"]},{"url":"http://twitter.com/cryptoron/statuses/677900647560253442","tags":["Broken Link"]},{"url":"http://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2015/12/18/juniper-says-it-didnt-work-with-government-to-add-unauthorized-code-to-network-gear/","tags":["Permissions Required"]},{"url":"http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/640184","tags":["Third Party Advisory"]},{"url":"http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/79626","tags":["Broken Link"]},{"url":"http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1034489","tags":["Broken Link"]},{"url":"http://www.wired.com/2015/12/juniper-networks-hidden-backdoors-show-the-risk-of-government-backdoors/","tags":["Third Party Advisory"]},{"url":"https://adamcaudill.com/2015/12/17/much-ado-about-juniper/","tags":["Third Party Advisory"]},{"url":"https://forums.juniper.net/t5/Security-Incident-Response/Important-Announcement-about-ScreenOS/ba-p/285554","tags":["Vendor Advisory"]},{"url":"https://github.com/hdm/juniper-cve-2015-7755","tags":["Third Party Advisory"]},{"url":"http://arstechnica.com/security/2015/12/unauthorized-code-in-juniper-firewalls-decrypts-encrypted-vpn-traffic/","tags":["Third Party Advisory"]},{"url":"http://kb.juniper.net/InfoCenter/index?page=content&id=JSA10713","tags":["Exploit","Vendor Advisory"]},{"url":"http://twitter.com/cryptoron/statuses/677900647560253442","tags":["Broken Link"]},{"url":"http://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2015/12/18/juniper-says-it-didnt-work-with-government-to-add-unauthorized-code-to-network-gear/","tags":["Permissions Required"]},{"url":"http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/640184","tags":["Third Party Advisory"]},{"url":"http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/79626","tags":["Broken Link"]},{"url":"http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1034489","tags":["Broken Link"]},{"url":"http://www.wired.com/2015/12/juniper-networks-hidden-backdoors-show-the-risk-of-government-backdoors/","tags":["Third Party Advisory"]},{"url":"https://adamcaudill.com/2015/12/17/much-ado-about-juniper/","tags":["Third Party Advisory"]},{"url":"https://forums.juniper.net/t5/Security-Incident-Response/Important-Announcement-about-ScreenOS/ba-p/285554","tags":["Vendor Advisory"]},{"url":"https://github.com/hdm/juniper-cve-2015-7755","tags":["Third Party Advisory"]},{"url":"https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2015-7755","tags":["US Government Resource"]}],"techniques":[{"id":"T1211","name":"Exploitation for Stealth","tactics":["stealth"],"provenance":"source","basis":"ctid-cve","bases":["ctid-cve"],"basisDetail":"CTID attack_to_cve (Phase 1)","mappingType":"uncategorized","evidence":[],"confidence":"low","confidenceNote":"CTID attack_to_cve Phase 1 \"Uncategorized\" mapping (not staged by impact)"},{"id":"T1078","name":"Valid Accounts","tactics":["initial-access","persistence","privilege-escalation","stealth"],"provenance":"ai","basis":"ai-mapping","bases":["ai-mapping"],"basisDetail":"claude-haiku-5-5: Backdoor password grants admin access remotely over SSH/TELNET","mappingType":"exploitation_technique","evidence":[{"from":"description","quote":"allows remote attackers to obtain administrative access by entering an unspecified password during a (1) SSH or (2) TELNET session","start":289,"end":419}],"model":"claude-haiku-5-5","confidence":"medium","confidenceNote":"AI-mapped from the description (quote-validated, not expert-reviewed)"},{"id":"T1021.004","name":"SSH","tactics":["lateral-movement"],"provenance":"ai","basis":"ai-mapping","bases":["ai-mapping"],"basisDetail":"claude-haiku-5-5: Remote SSH session provides administrative control of device","mappingType":"primary_impact","evidence":[{"from":"description","quote":"allows remote attackers to obtain administrative access by entering an unspecified password during a (1) SSH or (2) TELNET session","start":289,"end":419}],"model":"claude-haiku-5-5","confidence":"medium","confidenceNote":"AI-mapped from the description (quote-validated, not expert-reviewed)"}],"reports":[],"affected":[],"advisories":[],"euvd":{"id":"EUVD-2015-7655","url":"https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/vulnerability/EUVD-2015-7655","exploited":true,"exploitedSince":"2025-10-02","provenance":"source"},"exploits":[],"exploitSources":{"pocGithub":{"count":2,"skipped":0,"earliest":"2015-12-18","earliestUrl":"https://github.com/hdm/juniper-cve-2015-7755","repos":[{"name":"hdm/juniper-cve-2015-7755","url":"https://github.com/hdm/juniper-cve-2015-7755","stars":105,"created":"2015-12-18"},{"name":"cinno/CVE-2015-7755-POC","url":"https://github.com/cinno/CVE-2015-7755-POC","stars":2,"created":"2016-01-09"}]},"metasploit":[{"name":"Juniper SSH Backdoor Scanner","module":"auxiliary/scanner/ssh/juniper_backdoor","type":"auxiliary","disclosureDate":"2015-12-20","url":"https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/auxiliary/scanner/ssh/juniper_backdoor.rb"}],"first":{"date":"2015-12-18","source":"PoC-in-GitHub","url":"https://github.com/hdm/juniper-cve-2015-7755"},"provenance":"source"},"exploitRefs":["http://kb.juniper.net/InfoCenter/index?page=content&id=JSA10713"],"flow":[{"stage":"exploitation","techniques":["T1078"],"provenance":"ai"},{"stage":"primary","techniques":["T1021.004"],"provenance":"ai"},{"stage":"related","techniques":["T1211"],"provenance":"source","lowConfidence":true}],"timeline":[{"date":"2015-12-18","kind":"exploit-public","label":"First public exploit: PoC-in-GitHub; later: Metasploit 2015-12-20","url":"https://github.com/hdm/juniper-cve-2015-7755","provenance":"source"},{"date":"2015-12-19","kind":"published","label":"Published (NVD)","url":"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-7755","provenance":"source"},{"date":"2015-12-23","kind":"exploited-reported","label":"Exploitation first reported (VulnCheck KEV evidence)","url":"https://securityaffairs.com/42983/hacking/juniper-backdoor-attacks-honeypot.html","provenance":"source"},{"date":"2025-10-02","kind":"kev","label":"Added to CISA KEV","url":"https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog","provenance":"source"},{"date":"2025-10-02","kind":"euvd-exploited","label":"ENISA EUVD: exploited","url":"https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/vulnerability/EUVD-2015-7655","provenance":"source"}],"speed":{"daysToPublicExploit":null,"firstExploitFrom":"PoC-in-GitHub","daysToKev":3575},"priority":{"score":69.7,"factors":[{"name":"In a KEV catalog","points":35.0,"detail":"listed in CISA KEV and VulnCheck KEV"},{"name":"Recent KEV listing","points":0.0,"detail":"added 3963 days ago"},{"name":"Known ransomware use","points":0.0,"detail":"not known"},{"name":"EPSS percentile","points":19.83,"detail":"percentile 0.9916"},{"name":"Named in threat reports","points":0.0,"detail":"0 reports"},{"name":"Public exploit code","points":5.0,"detail":"1 NVD reference tagged Exploit; 2 PoC-in-GitHub repos; 1 Metasploit module"},{"name":"Mentioned in OTX pulses","points":3.0,"detail":"50 pulses"},{"name":"CVSS severity","points":6.86,"detail":"base score 9.8"},{"name":"End-of-life product","points":0.0,"detail":"supported or unknown"}]}}