CVE-2025-52988 is an OS command injection vulnerability (CWE-78) found in the command-line interface (CLI) of Juniper Networks Junos OS and Junos OS Evolved. This vulnerability allows a high-privileged local attacker to escalate their privileges to root by exploiting improper neutralization of special elements in the 'request system logout' command. Specifically, when a user inputs specially crafted arguments to this command, these arguments are executed directly in the root shell without proper sanitization, leading to arbitrary command execution with root privileges. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of Junos OS prior to various patch releases, including all versions before 21.2R3-S9, 21.4 versions before 21.4R3-S8, 22.2 versions before 22.2R3-S6, 22.3 versions before 22.3R3-S3, 22.4 versions before 22.4R3-S6, 23.2 versions before 23.2R2-S1, and 23.4 versions before 23.4R1-S2 and 23.4R2. Similarly, Junos OS Evolved versions prior to 22.4R3-S6-EVO, 23.2R2-S1-EVO, and 23.4R1-S2-EVO/23.4R2-EVO are affected. The vulnerability requires local access with high privileges (e.g., a user with CLI access) but does not require user interaction beyond issuing the malicious command. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.7 (medium severity), reflecting the local attack vector, low attack complexity, required high privileges, and significant impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No known exploits in the wild have been reported to date. This vulnerability could lead to complete device compromise, allowing attackers to control routing, network traffic, and device configurations, severely impacting network security and operations.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to network infrastructure security, particularly for enterprises, service providers, and government agencies relying on Juniper Networks Junos OS-based devices such as routers and firewalls. Exploitation could lead to full device compromise, enabling attackers to intercept, modify, or disrupt network traffic, potentially causing widespread service outages or data breaches. Given the critical role of Juniper devices in backbone and edge networks, successful exploitation could undermine network integrity and availability, impacting critical services and communications. The requirement for local high-privileged access somewhat limits remote exploitation, but insider threats or compromised administrative accounts could leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and gain full control. This risk is heightened in environments with inadequate access controls or insufficient monitoring of privileged user activities. Additionally, the ability to execute arbitrary commands as root could facilitate lateral movement within networks, increasing the scope of potential damage. European organizations in sectors such as telecommunications, finance, energy, and government are particularly sensitive to such threats due to regulatory requirements and the critical nature of their network infrastructure.

1. Immediate application of vendor-provided patches and updates is the most effective mitigation. Organizations should upgrade affected Junos OS and Junos OS Evolved devices to the fixed versions listed by Juniper Networks. 2. Restrict CLI access to trusted administrators only, employing strong authentication mechanisms such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) to reduce the risk of unauthorized local access. 3. Implement strict role-based access controls (RBAC) to limit the number of users with high privileges capable of executing the 'request system logout' command. 4. Monitor and audit CLI command usage and administrative sessions for unusual or unauthorized activity, leveraging centralized logging and Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems. 5. Where possible, isolate management interfaces from general network access to reduce exposure to potential attackers. 6. Conduct regular security training for administrators to recognize and prevent misuse of privileged commands. 7. Employ network segmentation and zero-trust principles to limit lateral movement in case of compromise. 8. If patching is delayed, consider temporary compensating controls such as disabling or restricting the use of the vulnerable command, if feasible, or applying access control lists (ACLs) to management interfaces.