Description
A critical vulnerability has been identified in the underlying Command Line Interface (CLI) service of Aruba Networks products. This vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2024-42509, enables unauthenticated remote code execution through command injection by sending specially crafted packets to the PAPI (Aruba’s Access Point management protocol) UDP port 8211. Successful exploitation allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code with high privileges on the compromised system.
Affected Product(s)
- ArubaOS (versions prior to 10.4.1.5 and 10.7.0.0),
- Aruba Instant, and
- Other associated products as specified in HPESBNW04722 advisory.
Technical Details
The vulnerability in question is linked to the Command Injection flaw found in Aruba Networks’ CLI service, which facilitates management of their networking equipment. The flaw exists in how special elements are improperly neutralized, leading to the potential execution of arbitrary commands. Specifically, this vulnerability manifests when specially crafted packets are sent to the PAPI UDP port (8211), which the products use for managing Access Points.
The CLI is a ubiquitous component in network management, where it enables the configuration and monitoring of network parameters. In ArubaOS and associated software, the CLI, when accessed via the PAPI protocol, does not adequately sanitize user inputs. This failure opens a gateway for attackers who can craft malicious packets containing potentially harmful commands or scripts. Upon reception and processing of these packets, the system may execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
The vulnerability particularly affects several versions of ArubaOS and SD-WAN software. Versions such as ArubaOS 10.4.x before 10.4.1.5, ArubaOS 10.6.x.x, 10.5.x.x, and 10.3.x.x are critically impacted. These versions are categorized as end-of-maintenance, and thus, lacking official patches.
Foothold on a vulnerable system through this attack vector could allow attackers to propagate within a network or capture sensitive information, thus compromising overall network security. This stems from the ability of the attacker to inject and execute commands that interact with the operating system of the device. Additionally, threat actors could leverage this command injection to deploy malware, disrupt network services, or establish persistent backdoors for prolonged access and control.
In-depth analysis of references and advisories, including those from HPE, indicates that detection logic for this vulnerability spans both authenticated and unauthenticated means. Using Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), the presence of vulnerable versions can be checked without authentication, whereas authenticated checks involve executing specific commands to reveal the version details of ArubaOS.
The ramifications of this vulnerability extend beyond just unauthorized access; it also poses severe risks of information theft, operational disruption, and potential facilitation of further exploitations with other malicious tools or techniques. It is a significant concern necessitating immediate attention from network administrators and security teams.
Weakness
The weakness associated with this vulnerability is categorized under CWE-77: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command (‘Command Injection’). This classification denotes vulnerabilities that occur when an application improperly sanitizes input, allowing attackers to inject and execute commands arbitrarily.
Impact Assessment
If exploited, this vulnerability could allow an attacker to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data or even execute arbitrary code as a privileged user on the affected system. It could lead to complete system compromise, unauthorized data manipulation, or denial of service across the network infrastructure employing vulnerable versions of Aruba products.
Active Exploitation
There is no specific adversary group identified in the available data actively exploiting this particular vulnerability. However, given the critical nature and potential impact of this vulnerability, it remains a highly attractive target for malicious actors who regularly attack similar vulnerabilities.
Ransomware Association
At this time, there is no direct indication that this vulnerability is associated with specific ransomware families. However, vulnerabilities allowing command injection and remote code execution are commonly leveraged by ransomware operators during the initial phases of their attack methodologies.
Mitigation and Resolution
We have released a patch that addresses this vulnerability. Users are strongly urged to update their systems to versions ArubaOS 10.4.1.5 or 10.7.0.0 immediately to mitigate potential exploitation risks.
Recommendations
- We strongly recommend that all customers apply the latest patch as soon as possible.
- Verify the version of ArubaOS operating in your network using both authenticated and unauthenticated detection methods.
- Ensure that network access to critical interfaces such as the PAPI UDP port is restricted to trusted hosts.
- Enable intrusion detection systems (IDS) that can monitor and alert on suspicious activities associated with uncommon UDP traffic.
- Regularly update the security configurations and ensure proper input sanitization across network management tools.
ย References