CVE-2018-7067 in ClearPass Policy Manager
Summary
by MITRE
A Remote Authentication bypass in Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager leads to complete cluster compromise. An authentication flaw in all versions of ClearPass could allow an attacker to compromise the entire cluster through a specially crafted API call. Network access to the administrative web interface is required to exploit this vulnerability. Resolution: Fixed in 6.7.6 and 6.6.10-hotfix.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/19/2020
The CVE-2018-7067 vulnerability represents a critical authentication bypass flaw in Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager that fundamentally undermines the security posture of network access control systems. This vulnerability exists within the administrative web interface of ClearPass, which serves as the central management point for network access policies and user authentication. The flaw allows attackers to bypass legitimate authentication mechanisms through specially crafted API calls that exploit a design weakness in the authentication validation process. Given that ClearPass operates as a central policy enforcement point in network security architectures, this vulnerability creates a pathway for attackers to gain unauthorized administrative access to the entire cluster.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and authentication checks within the API endpoints that handle administrative operations. Attackers can construct malicious API requests that circumvent the normal authentication flow, effectively allowing them to assume administrative privileges without proper credentials. This authentication bypass operates at the application layer and requires only network access to the administrative web interface, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited remotely from outside the network perimeter. The vulnerability affects all versions of ClearPass prior to the patched releases, indicating a fundamental flaw in the authentication architecture that was not properly addressed in the product development lifecycle.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables complete cluster compromise and full administrative control over the network access policy management system. Once an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can modify authentication policies, create new user accounts, disable security controls, and potentially gain access to the underlying network infrastructure that ClearPass manages. This compromise represents a severe threat to network security as ClearPass typically controls access to critical network resources and maintains extensive visibility into network traffic and user activities. The vulnerability essentially provides an attacker with a backdoor into the core network security infrastructure, potentially enabling lateral movement and persistent access within the network environment.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the recommended patches, specifically versions 6.7.6 and 6.6.10-hotfix, which address the authentication bypass through proper input validation and strengthened authentication checks. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive network scans to identify any potential exploitation attempts and review administrative access logs for suspicious activities. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues, and represents a significant concern from an ATT&CK framework perspective, particularly under the privilege escalation and persistence tactics. Network segmentation and access control measures should be reviewed and strengthened to limit the blast radius of such vulnerabilities, while also implementing continuous monitoring for unauthorized administrative access attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper authentication design and the potential consequences when authentication mechanisms are inadequately implemented in security-critical applications.