CVE-2017-5829 in Aruba ClearPass
Summary
by MITRE
An access restriction bypass vulnerability in HPE Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager version 6.6.x was found.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/26/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5829 represents a critical access restriction bypass flaw within the HPE Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager platform version 6.6.x. This security weakness allows unauthorized users to circumvent the intended authentication and authorization controls that are fundamental to network access management systems. The ClearPass Policy Manager serves as a centralized solution for network access control, identity management, and policy enforcement within enterprise environments, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations that rely on its services for securing network infrastructure.
Technical analysis reveals that the flaw stems from insufficient validation of user permissions and access controls within the application's authentication framework. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to gain elevated privileges or access restricted administrative functions without proper authentication credentials. The vulnerability specifically affects the version 6.6.x release line of ClearPass Policy Manager, indicating that the issue was present in a widely deployed version that organizations had likely configured for production use. This type of access restriction bypass typically occurs when the system fails to properly enforce mandatory access controls, allowing malicious actors to traverse security boundaries that should remain protected.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, potentially enabling attackers to manipulate network policies, view sensitive configuration data, or even take control of the entire policy management system. Organizations using ClearPass Policy Manager for critical network access control may find their entire security posture compromised if this vulnerability is exploited. The implications are particularly severe because ClearPass Policy Manager typically handles sensitive identity information, network access policies, and administrative functions that control who can access what resources within the network infrastructure. This vulnerability could enable attackers to establish persistent access to network resources or disrupt legitimate network operations through policy manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-5829 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from HPE Aruba, as the vendor would have released a security update addressing the specific access restriction bypass issue. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect unusual access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additional defensive measures include regular privilege audits, enhanced logging of administrative activities, and implementation of multi-factor authentication for critical administrative functions. From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control, and could be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts, as the exploitation would likely involve gaining access through compromised or bypassed authentication mechanisms. Organizations should also consider conducting comprehensive security assessments of their ClearPass Policy Manager deployments to identify any additional vulnerabilities that might have been overlooked.