Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Menu
Search
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Cybersecurity
    • Cybersecurity

    Juniper Networks Moves to Replace Vulnerable Code

    By
    Sean Michael Kerner
    -
    January 11, 2016
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin
      Juniper Networks

      At the end of 2015, Juniper Networks publicly disclosed that it had found previously unknown backdoor code on some of its firewalls. Juniper patched the issues and is now going a step further by replacing a core cryptography component in its ScreenOS operating system to further reduce any potential risk.

      A core element of many forms of cryptography is the use of random number generators. The ScreenOS operating system makes use of the Dual_EC DBRG (Dual Elliptic Curve Deterministic Random Bit Generator) and ANSI X9.31random number technologies. Back in 2014, reports emerged alleging that Dual_EC DBRG was intentionally weakened in order to enable the placement of a backdoor by the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA).

      Bob Worrall, senior vice president and CIO of Juniper Networks, is now moving to have his company remove Dual_EC DBRG from ScreenOS entirely.

      With the initial patch for ScreenOS that protects users against backdoor code, Dual_EC remains in place.

      “We remain confident that the patched releases, which use Dual_EC, remediate both the unauthorized administrative access issue, as well as the VPN decryption issue,” Worrall wrote in a blog post.

      ScreenOS is the core operating systems used on Juniper’s Netscreen firewalls, which have largely been superseded in the company’s product portfolio in recent years by the SRX Firewall product portfolio. The SRX runs on Juniper’s Junos operating system, which is the same operating system that powers most of the company’s switches and routers.

      After the initial discovery of the backdoor code on ScreenOS, Worrall commented that Juniper started a comprehensive investigation into both ScreenOS and Junos source code. The end result of that investigation is that there is no evidence to suggest any unathorized code or backdoor in Junos.

      “The investigation also confirmed that it would be much more difficult to insert the same type of unauthorized code in Junos OS,” Worrall said.

      One reason it would be more difficult to insert unauthorized backdoor code in Junos that it uses a different random number generation system. To that end, Juniper is going to replace Dual_EC in ScreenOS 6.3 and instead make use of Junos’ random number generation technology. The change is expected to land in a ScreenOS update that is set to become available in the first half of the year.

      Itay Glick, CEO of security specialist Votiro, is not surprised that Juniper is replacing the DUAL_EC component and suggested that other vendors do the same and move to a well-validated algorithm.

      “Every company that uses compromised components should strive not to use them,” Glick told eWEEK.

      Areg Alimian, senior director of solutions marketing at security specialist Ixia, is also not surprised that Juniper is moving to replace potentially vulnerable cryptography components in its software. A key lesson that can be learned from this incident is that entropy needs to be more automatic and easier to add into security systems, he said.

      “Random number generators (RNG) are essential but can’t be the lynchpin to any system,” Alimian told eWEEK.

      Sean Michael Kerner is a senior editor at eWEEK and InternetNews.com. Follow him on Twitter @TechJournalist.

      Sean Michael Kerner
      Sean Michael Kerner is an Internet consultant, strategist, and contributor to several leading IT business web sites.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Android

      Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro: Durability for Tough...

      Chris Preimesberger - December 5, 2020 0
      Have you ever dropped your phone, winced and felt the pain as it hit the sidewalk? Either the screen splintered like a windshield being...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Why Data Security Will Face Even Harsher...

      Chris Preimesberger - December 1, 2020 0
      Who would know more about details of the hacking process than an actual former career hacker? And who wants to understand all they can...
      Read more
      Cybersecurity

      How Veritas Is Shining a Light Into...

      eWEEK EDITORS - September 25, 2020 0
      Protecting data has always been one of the most important tasks in all of IT, yet as more companies become data companies at the...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      How NVIDIA A100 Station Brings Data Center...

      Zeus Kerravala - November 18, 2020 0
      There’s little debate that graphics processor unit manufacturer NVIDIA is the de facto standard when it comes to providing silicon to power machine learning...
      Read more
      Apple

      Why iPhone 12 Pro Makes Sense for...

      Wayne Rash - November 26, 2020 0
      If you’ve been watching the Apple commercials for the past three weeks, you already know what the company thinks will happen if you buy...
      Read more

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×