CVE-2008-2273 in Aruba Mobility Controller
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the TACACS authentication component in Aruba Mobility Controller 3.1.x, 3.2.x, and 3.3.x allows remote authenticated users to gain privileges via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/01/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2273 affects the TACACS authentication component within Aruba Mobility Controller versions 3.1.x through 3.3.x, representing a critical security weakness that enables remote authenticated attackers to escalate their privileges. This issue resides within the authentication framework that governs access control for wireless network infrastructure, specifically targeting the TACACS+ protocol implementation used for centralized authentication services. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability vectors suggests that multiple attack pathways may exist within the authentication processing logic, potentially involving manipulation of authentication tokens, session management flaws, or improper privilege validation mechanisms. The affected Aruba Mobility Controller versions operate as central management systems for wireless access points and network security policies, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprise wireless infrastructure deployments.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper handling of authentication requests within the TACACS+ subsystem, where authenticated users can exploit unknown vectors to elevate their privileges beyond their intended access levels. This privilege escalation vulnerability typically stems from insufficient input validation, improper access control checks, or flawed session management within the authentication component. The vulnerability's classification as a privilege escalation issue aligns with CWE-264, which covers permissions, privileges, and access control weaknesses, while the remote attack vector maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for Valid Accounts and T1548.001 for Abuse of Functionality. The authentication component likely fails to properly validate user credentials or session tokens during privilege escalation attempts, allowing malicious actors to manipulate authentication flows and gain unauthorized administrative access to the mobility controller.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as successful exploitation can enable attackers to completely compromise the wireless network infrastructure managed by the Aruba Mobility Controller. An attacker who gains elevated privileges can modify wireless access policies, create unauthorized user accounts, disable security features, and potentially gain access to sensitive network data transmitted through the wireless network. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on Aruba's wireless solutions for enterprise network management, potentially exposing critical business infrastructure to unauthorized access. Network administrators may face challenges in detecting exploitation attempts since the attack occurs within legitimate authentication processes, and the unspecified vectors make it difficult to implement targeted defensive measures. Organizations using these controller versions may experience unauthorized network access, data breaches, and potential compliance violations due to the elevated privilege access that could be gained.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-2273 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Aruba Mobility Controller versions, with administrators upgrading to patched firmware releases that address the privilege escalation vulnerability. Network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect unusual authentication patterns or privilege escalation attempts within the wireless infrastructure. Access controls should be reviewed and strengthened, ensuring that only authorized administrators can access the mobility controller management interfaces. The implementation of network monitoring tools specifically designed to detect anomalies in TACACS+ authentication flows can help identify potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative access and establishing robust audit logging to track authentication events and privilege changes. According to industry best practices and NIST guidelines for wireless network security, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues in network infrastructure components. The vulnerability's classification as a remote privilege escalation issue emphasizes the need for immediate remediation and continuous monitoring of network authentication systems to prevent unauthorized access to critical infrastructure components.