Junos OS: After removing ssh public key authentication root can still log in

Vulnerability Description

A UI Discrepancy for Security Feature vulnerability in the UI of Juniper Networks Junos OS on VM Host systems allows a network-based, unauthenticated attacker to access the device. On VM Host Routing Engines (RE), even if the configured public key for root has been removed, remote users which are in possession of the corresponding private key can still log in as root. This issue affects Junos OS: * all versions before 22.2R3-S7, * 22.4 versions before 22.4R3-S5, * 23.2 versions before 23.2R2-S3, * 23.4 versions before 23.4R2-S3, * 24.2 versions before 24.2R1-S2, 24.2R2.

References

• https://supportportal.juniper.net/JSA100089
• https://www.juniper.net/documentation/us/en/software/junos/junos-install-upgrade/topics/topic-map/vm-host-overview.html#id-routing-engines-with-vm-host-support