Juniper EX Series Switches Layer 2 Switch STIG

Juniper EX Series Switches Layer 2 Switch Security Technical Implementation Guide

The Juniper EX Series Switches Layer 2 Switch Security Technical Implementation Guide (V2 R5) has 24 STIG checks. New to STIG checklists? Read What is a STIG checklist?, CKL vs CKLB, and STIG vs SCAP benchmark.

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Severity

Version

V2 · R5

CurrentPublished Wed Jul 01 2026

The Juniper EX switch must be configured to authenticate all network-connected endpoint devices before establishing any connection.

Juniper EX Series Switches Layer 2 Switch Security Technical Implementation Guide

Assessment Title

Rule Text

The Juniper EX switch must be configured to authenticate all network-connected endpoint devices before establishing any connection.

Description

Discussion Text

Without authenticating devices, unidentified or unknown devices may be introduced, thereby facilitating malicious activity.

Device authentication is a solution enabling an organization to manage devices. It is an additional layer of authentication ensuring only specific pre-authorized devices can access the system. This requirement applies to applications that connect either locally, remotely, or through a network to an endpoint device (including, but not limited to, workstations, printers, servers (outside a datacenter), VoIP Phones, and VTC CODECs. Gateways and SOA applications are examples of where this requirement would apply.

For Juniper EX, configure 802.1 x authentication on all host-facing access interfaces. To authenticate those devices that do not support an 802.1x supplicant, Static MAC Bypass or MAC RADIUS must be configured. Junos supports three supplicant types: single-secure (authenticate and permit only a single device), multiple (separately authenticate and permit multiple devices), and single (authenticate the first supplicant and permit all others). The authentication order must be appropriate for the target environment. Authentication must be configured on all access interfaces connecting to LAN outlets or devices not located in the telecom room, wiring closets, or equipment rooms.

New to STIG checklists? Read What is a STIG checklist? and CKL vs CKLB.

Objective

V-253954

Rule

SV-253954r1082969_rule

Severity

medium

Rule Version

JUEX-L2-000070

Documentable

false

IA Controls

NIST SP 800-53

Rev 5

Assessment Procedure

Check Text

Verify the switch configuration has 802.1x authentication implemented for all access interfaces connecting to LAN outlets (i.e., RJ-45 wall plates) or devices not located in the telecom room, wiring closets, or equipment rooms. Static MAC Bypass or MAC RADIUS must be configured on access interfaces connected to devices that do not support an 802.1x supplicant. Junos supports three supplicant types: single-secure (authenticate and permit only a single device), multiple (separately authenticate and permit multiple devices), and single (authenticate the first supplicant and permit all others).

Verify the available RADIUS server(s) are configured. RADIUS servers can be configured globally at [edit access radius-server] or defined for each group.

user@host> show configuration access
radius-server {
    <RADIUS IPv4 or IPv6 address> secret "PSK"; ## SECRET-DATA
}
profile dot1x_radius {
    authentication-order radius;
    radius {
        authentication-server <RADIUS IPv4 or IPv6 address>; <<< Must be defined if using global RADIUS server. Optional if RADIUS is defined specifically for the profile.
    }
    radius-server {
        <RADIUS IPv4 or IPv6 address> secret "PSK"; ## SECRET-DATA <<< Must be defined if not using global RADIUS server. Takes precedence if both profile and global RADIUS is configured.
    }
}

Verify 802.1x or MAC RADIUS is configured on all host-facing access interfaces when RADIUS is available as shown in the following example. The default authentication order is dot1x, mac-radius, and captive-portal. This order is applied to all interfaces without the authentication order directive configured (int-01 shown below). For interfaces with connected devices that do not support 802.1x (int-02 below), it may be necessary to change the authentication order because the device authentication attempt may timeout before the switch fails over from dot1x to mac-radius. When restricting to mac-radius authentication only (int-03 below), the authentication order cannot be set.
user@host> show configuration protocols dot1x
authenticator {
    authentication-profile-name dot1x_radius;
    interface {
        <int-01 name> {  <<< Connected device with 802.1x supplicant
            supplicant single-secure;
        }
        <int-02 name> {  <<< Connected device with 802.1x supplicant and interface support for MAC RADIUS, MAC RADIUS authentication preferred
            authentication-order [ mac-radius dot1x captive-portal ];
            supplicant multiple;
            mac-radius;
        }
        <int-03 name> {  <<< Connected device without 802.1x supplicant
            mac-radius {
                restrict;
            }
        }
    }
}

Note: The interface names, supplicant type, MAC RADIUS support, and authentication order must be appropriate for the target environment.

If RADIUS is unavailable or not configured:
user@host> show configuration protocols dot1x
authenticator {
    static {
       <MAC address>/48 {
            vlan-assignment <vlan name>;
            interface <interface name>.<logical unit>;
        }
    }
}

If 802.1x authentication, Static MAC Bypass, or MAC RADIUS is not configured on all access interfaces connecting to LAN outlets or devices not located in the telecom room, wiring closets, or equipment rooms, this is a finding.

Implementation Procedure

Fix Text

Configure 802.1 x authentication on all host-facing access interfaces. To authenticate those devices that do not support an 802.1x supplicant, Static MAC Bypass or MAC RADIUS must be configured. The authentication order must be appropriate for the target environment.

Configure RADIUS if available:
user@host> configure
user@host# set access radius-server <RADIUS IPv4 or IPv6 address (global)> secret "<PSK>"
user@host# set access profile dot1x_radius authentication-order radius
user@host# set access profile dot1x_radius radius authentication-server <RADIUS IPv4 or IPv6 address (global)>

-or-

user@host# set access profile dot1x_radius radius-server <RADIUS IPv4 or IPv6 address> secret "<PSK>"

To configure 802.1x on an access interface using the default authentication order:
user@host# set protocols dot1x authenticator authentication-profile-name dot1x_radius
user@host# set protocols dot1x authenticator interface <int-01> supplicant single-secure

To configure 802.1x and MAC RADIUS on an access interface and prefer MAC RADIUS in the authentication order:
user@host# set protocols dot1x authenticator interface <int-02> authentication-order mac-radius
user@host# set protocols dot1x authenticator interface <int-02> authentication-order dot1x
user@host# set protocols dot1x authenticator interface <int-02> authentication-order captive-portal
user@host# set protocols dot1x authenticator interface <int-02> supplicant multiple
user@host# set protocols dot1x authenticator interface <int-02> mac-radius

To configure only MAC RADIUS on an access interface for devices that do not support 802.1x (authentication order cannot be set):
user@host# set protocols dot1x authenticator interface <int-03> mac-radius restrict

To configure Static MAC Bypass:
user@host# set protocols dot1x authenticator static <MAC address>/48 vlan-assignment <vlan name>
user@host# set protocols dot1x authenticator static <MAC address>/48 interface <interface name>.<logical unit>

STIG check 7 of 24 in the Juniper EX Series Switches Layer 2 Switch STIG checklist

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