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PHP CVE-2023-36845

CRITICAL
PHP External Variable Modification (CWE-473)
2023-08-17 sirt@juniper.net
9.8
CVSS 3.1 · Vendor: juniper
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Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
Impact

CVSS score of 9.8 (CRITICAL). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction not required. Public proof-of-concept exploit code is available.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

This vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network. Successful exploitation could compromise the critical-severity affected system.

Emergency Immediate action required. Why: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited), no patch available.
Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV) No patch listed yet 93.5% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

A PHP External Variable Modification vulnerability in J-Web of Juniper Networks Junos OS on EX Series and SRX Series allows an unauthenticated, network-based attacker to remotely execute code. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.

RemediationAI

No vendor patch is available at time of analysis. Monitor vendor advisories for updates. Apply vendor patches when available. Implement network segmentation and monitoring as interim mitigations.

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

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Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-473. A PHP External Variable Modification vulnerability in J-Web of Juniper Networks Junos OS on EX Series and SRX Series allows an unauthenticated, network-based attacker to remotely execute code. Using a crafted request which sets the variable PHPRC an attacker is able to modify the PHP execution environment allowing the injection und execution of code.4R3-S9; * 21.1 versions 21.1R1 and later; * 21.2 versions prior to 21.2R3-S7; * 21.3 versions prior to 21.3R3-S5; * 21.4 versions prior to 21.4R3-S5; * 22.1 versions prior to 22.1R3-S4; * 22.2 versions prior to 22.2R3-S2; * 22.3 versions prior to 22.3R2-S2, 22.3R3-S1; * 22.4 versions prior to 22.4R2-S1, 22.4R3; * 23.2 versions prior to 23.2R1-S1, 23.2R2. Affected products include: Juniper Junos. Version information: prior to

20.4.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

Vendor (juniper) PRIMARY 9.8 CRITICAL
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Primary rating from Vendor (juniper) · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorVendor: juniper

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Lifecycle Timeline

2
Added to CISA KEV
Jul 14, 2026 - 04:22 CISA
CVE Published
Aug 17, 2023 - 20:15 cve.org
CRITICAL 9.8

DescriptionCVE.org

A PHP External Variable Modification vulnerability in J-Web of Juniper Networks Junos OS on EX Series

and SRX Series

allows an unauthenticated, network-based attacker to remotely execute code.

Using a crafted request which sets the variable PHPRC an attacker is able to modify the PHP execution environment allowing the injection und execution of code.

This issue affects Juniper Networks Junos OS on EX Series

and

SRX Series:

  • All versions prior to

20.4R3-S9;

  • 21.1 versions 21.1R1 and later;
  • 21.2 versions prior to 21.2R3-S7;
  • 21.3 versions prior to 21.3R3-S5;
  • 21.4 versions prior to 21.4R3-S5;
  • 22.1 versions

prior to

22.1R3-S4;

  • 22.2 versions

prior to

22.2R3-S2;

  • 22.3 versions

prior to

22.3R2-S2, 22.3R3-S1;

  • 22.4 versions

prior to

22.4R2-S1, 22.4R3;

  • 23.2 versions prior to 23.2R1-S1, 23.2R2.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
93.5%
Top 0% exploitable
Exploit
POC
Public exploit code exists
Data Quality
3 sources
Confidence: Low

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity CRITICAL
CISA KEV Yes
Public POC Yes
EPSS 93.5%
Patch available No
Active threat Yes
Deciding rule
CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited), no patch available
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Immediate
Exploitation· derived
Active
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
Yes
Human Impact· derived
High

Priority Score

228
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: +50
EPSS: +94
CVSS: +49
PoC: +20
Weaponized: +15
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Code Injection CRITICAL

Code injection occurs when an application accepts user input and passes it directly into a language interpreter or evaluator without proper sanitization.

Affected Products (CPE)CVE.org

cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:20.4:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:20.4:r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:20.4:r1-s1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:20.4:r2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:20.4:r2-s1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:20.4:r2-s2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:20.4:r3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:20.4:r3-s1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:20.4:r3-s2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:20.4:r3-s3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:20.4:r3-s4:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:20.4:r3-s5:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:20.4:r3-s6:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:20.4:r3-s7:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:20.4:r3-s8:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:21.1:r1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:21.1:r1-s1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:21.1:r2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:juniper:junos:21.1:r2-s1:*:*:*:*:*:*
+ 73 more

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