CVE-2015-1392 in ClearPass Policy Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in Aruba Networks ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM) before 6.4.5 allow remote administrators to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2019
The CVE-2015-1392 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in Aruba Networks ClearPass Policy Manager software that affects versions prior to 6.4.5. This vulnerability falls under the category of SQL injection attacks, which are among the most dangerous web application security flaws according to the CWE-89 classification. The ClearPass Policy Manager serves as a centralized identity and access management solution that controls network access for wireless and wired networks, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise enterprise network security infrastructure. The vulnerability specifically impacts remote administrators who can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary SQL commands within the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the CPPM application's database interaction layers. Attackers can exploit this weakness through unspecified vectors that likely involve crafted HTTP requests or API calls that are not properly escaped or parameterized before being processed by the backend database. This allows malicious actors to inject SQL code that executes with the privileges of the database user account associated with the CPPM application. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation can enable attackers to modify or delete critical configuration data, escalate privileges, and potentially gain unauthorized access to the underlying network infrastructure that ClearPass manages.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1392 is severe for organizations relying on Aruba's ClearPass Policy Manager for network access control. Network administrators who can leverage this vulnerability gain the ability to manipulate user authentication data, modify access policies, and potentially establish persistent backdoors within the network security infrastructure. The attack surface is particularly concerning because ClearPass typically operates with elevated privileges to manage network access, meaning database-level compromise can translate directly into network-level compromise. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for Valid Accounts and T1046 for Network Service Scanning, as attackers can use the compromised system to enumerate network services and maintain access. Organizations may face significant compliance violations if this vulnerability results in unauthorized access to sensitive network resources, particularly in regulated environments where network access control is mandated.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-1392 primarily focus on immediate software updates to version 6.4.5 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the SQL injection vulnerabilities. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to ClearPass Policy Manager systems, employ Web Application Firewalls to detect and block malicious SQL injection attempts, and conduct thorough network monitoring for unusual database activity patterns. Additionally, security teams should review and restrict administrative access to the system, implement proper input validation at all application entry points, and establish regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other network management systems. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of keeping network infrastructure software updated and maintaining robust security monitoring practices to detect and respond to exploitation attempts.