CVE-2014-8368 in AirWave
Summary
by MITRE
The web interface in Aruba Networks AirWave before 7.7.14 and 8.x before 8.0.5 allows remote authenticated users to gain privileges and execute arbitrary commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/15/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-8368 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the web interface of Aruba Networks AirWave management platform. This issue affects versions prior to 7.7.14 and 8.0.5, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on this wireless network management solution. The vulnerability allows remote authenticated users to escalate their privileges and execute arbitrary commands on the affected system, fundamentally undermining the security model of the platform. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests multiple potential pathways through which an attacker could exploit this weakness, making the vulnerability particularly concerning for security professionals who must defend against unknown attack surfaces.
The technical implementation of this privilege escalation vulnerability stems from inadequate access control mechanisms within the web interface components of AirWave. When authenticated users interact with the management platform, the system fails to properly validate or enforce privilege boundaries, allowing lower-privileged users to manipulate system functions and gain elevated access. This flaw operates at the application layer and specifically targets the authentication and authorization frameworks that govern user permissions within the AirWave environment. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues, and represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege that should govern all enterprise network management systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-8368 extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying system. This means that an authenticated attacker could potentially gain complete control over the AirWave appliance, access sensitive network data, modify configurations, or even use the compromised system as a pivot point to attack other network segments. The remote nature of the vulnerability eliminates the need for physical access or local network presence, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with distributed wireless networks. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability enables lateral movement within the network infrastructure and could serve as a foundational compromise for more extensive attacks. The implications are especially severe given that AirWave systems typically manage critical wireless network operations and maintain sensitive configuration data for enterprise networks.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of official patches provided by Aruba Networks. The vendor released updates specifically addressing this issue in versions 7.7.14 and 8.0.5, which should be deployed across all affected installations without delay. Security teams should also implement network segmentation to limit the exposure of AirWave management interfaces and monitor for suspicious authentication patterns or command execution attempts. The mitigation strategy should include regular security assessments of network management platforms and enforcement of strict access controls for administrative interfaces. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous command execution patterns and privilege escalation attempts, as these may indicate exploitation of similar vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically highlighting the importance of protecting management interfaces from unauthorized access. Given the critical nature of this vulnerability and its potential for enabling broader compromise, security teams must treat it as a high-priority remediation item within their overall vulnerability management program.