CVE-2015-4649 in ClearPass Policy Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Aruba Networks ClearPass Policy Manager before 6.4.7 and 6.5.x before 6.5.2 allows remote authenticated administrators to gain root privileges via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-3654.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/11/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-4649 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within Aruba Networks ClearPass Policy Manager software. This issue affects versions prior to 6.4.7 and 6.5.2, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on this network access control solution. The vulnerability specifically targets authenticated administrators who can leverage it to escalate their privileges to root level access, fundamentally compromising the security posture of the affected systems. Unlike CVE-2015-3654 which addressed different attack vectors, this flaw presents a distinct pathway for unauthorized privilege elevation that could enable attackers to gain complete system control.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper privilege handling mechanisms within the ClearPass Policy Manager authentication and authorization framework. While the exact technical details remain unspecified in the CVE description, such privilege escalation vulnerabilities typically arise from insecure direct object references, improper input validation, or flawed access control checks within the administrative interface. The flaw allows authenticated users to manipulate system permissions or exploit implementation weaknesses in the privilege management subsystem, ultimately enabling them to execute commands with root-level privileges. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-269 which categorizes improper privileges and CWE-798 which addresses hardcoded credentials, though the specific implementation details suggest a more complex privilege escalation mechanism.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-4649 is severe and far-reaching for organizations using affected ClearPass Policy Manager versions. Once an authenticated administrator exploits this vulnerability, they gain complete system control over the policy manager, potentially allowing them to modify network access policies, view sensitive authentication data, disable security controls, or establish persistent backdoors. This root-level access could enable attackers to compromise the entire network access control infrastructure, affecting thousands of network endpoints and users. The vulnerability particularly threatens organizations that rely heavily on centralized network access management, as the compromise of a single administrative account could result in widespread network infiltration. The impact extends beyond immediate system compromise to include potential data exfiltration, network disruption, and compliance violations.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including immediate patching to versions 6.4.7 or 6.5.2, which contain the necessary security fixes. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious administrative activities, particularly privilege escalation attempts. Access controls should be strengthened through multi-factor authentication implementation and principle of least privilege enforcement. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of administrative accounts and monitor for unusual system access patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of timely patch management and proper privilege control in network security infrastructure, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1484 for domain policy modification. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar privilege escalation vectors in other network infrastructure components.