CVE-2008-7023 in Aruba Mobility Controller
Summary
by MITRE
Aruba Mobility Controller running ArubaOS 3.3.1.16, and possibly other versions, installs the same default X.509 certificate for all installations, which allows remote attackers to bypass authentication. NOTE: this is only a vulnerability when the administrator does not follow recommendations in the product s security documentation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/18/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-7023 affects Aruba Mobility Controller devices operating on ArubaOS version 3.3.1.16 and potentially other versions, representing a critical security flaw in network infrastructure authentication mechanisms. This issue stems from the improper implementation of cryptographic security measures where the system defaults to using identical X.509 certificates across all installations, fundamentally undermining the security model designed to protect network access control. The flaw is categorized under CWE-310 as a weakness in cryptographic implementation, specifically involving the use of predictable and identical certificates that should never be deployed in production environments without proper customization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs at the certificate management level within the ArubaOS operating system, where the default configuration fails to generate unique cryptographic identities for each device. This creates a scenario where attackers can exploit the identical certificate across multiple installations to bypass authentication mechanisms, effectively allowing unauthorized access to network management interfaces and potentially full administrative control over affected mobility controllers. The vulnerability operates at the network infrastructure layer and represents a significant deviation from security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-57 and RFC 5280 standards for certificate management.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple authentication bypass to encompass potential network compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive corporate data. When administrators fail to follow recommended security documentation and customization procedures, the identical default certificates become a critical attack vector that adversaries can leverage to establish persistent access to network infrastructure. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts and T1566.001 for credential harvesting, as attackers can exploit the predictable certificate to gain unauthorized access to management interfaces and potentially escalate privileges through subsequent attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper certificate management procedures including the generation of unique X.509 certificates for each device installation, as recommended in Aruba's security documentation and aligned with industry standards such as ISO/IEC 15408 Common Criteria and NIST SP 800-155. Network administrators must ensure that default certificates are replaced with properly generated unique certificates and that certificate lifecycle management procedures are implemented to prevent future occurrences. The remediation process should include comprehensive security audits of all network infrastructure devices to identify and replace any remaining default certificates, while also implementing monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should review and update their security policies to ensure that device customization and certificate management are part of standard deployment procedures, as outlined in ISO/IEC 27001 security controls and the ArubaOS security configuration guidelines.