# CVE-2026-21916: A UNIX Symbolic Link (Symlink) Following vulnerability in the CLI of Juniper Networks Junos OS allows a local…

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-21916-a-unix-symbolic-link-symlink-following-vulnerability-in-the-cli  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-04-09  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-21916 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.3 · Published 2026-04-09

A UNIX Symbolic Link (Symlink) Following vulnerability in the CLI of Juniper Networks Junos OS allows a local, authenticated attacker with low privileges to escalate their privileges to root which will lead to a complete compromise of the system.

When after a user has performed a specific 'file link ...' CLI operation, another user commits (unrelated configuration changes), the first user can login as root.

This issue affects Junos OS:
  *  all versions before 23.2R2-S7,
  *  23.4 versions before 23.4R2-S6,
  *  24.2 versions before 24.2R2-S3,
  *  24.4 versions before 24.4R2-S2,
  *  25.2 versions before 25.2R2.


This issue does not affect versions 25.4R1 or later.

Technologies: [Juniper Junos](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/junos). Vendors: [Juniper](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/juniper).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-21916 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-21916 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-21916?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.3, published 9 April 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Juniper Junos. The advisory does not name versions.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-21916?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-21916?** Check whether you run Juniper Junos. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Affected products

- Juniper Junos

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