CVE-2019-5320 in Intelligent Edge Switch
Summary
by MITRE
Aruba Intelligent Edge Switch Series 2540, 2530, 2930F, 2930M, 2920, 5400R, and 3810M with firmware 16.08.* before 16.08.0009, 16.09.* before 16.09.0007, 16.10.* before 16.10.0003 are vulnerable to Cross Site Scripting in the web UI, leading to injection of code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/27/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-5320 affects Aruba Intelligent Edge Switch Series devices including models 2540, 2530, 2930F, 2930M, 2920, 5400R, and 3810M running specific firmware versions. This cross site scripting vulnerability resides within the web user interface of these network switches, representing a critical security weakness that could be exploited by remote attackers to compromise network infrastructure. The affected firmware versions span multiple release branches including 16.08., 16.09., and 16.10.*, indicating this flaw has persisted across several software iterations and affects a substantial portion of the deployed Aruba switch portfolio.
The technical flaw manifests as a failure to properly sanitize user input within the web interface components of these switches. When users interact with the management web UI, malicious input containing script code can be processed and executed in the context of other users' browsers who access the same interface. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79 which defines Cross Site Scripting as the improper validation or sanitization of user-supplied data that is then reflected back to users without proper encoding. The flaw enables attackers to inject malicious scripts that can execute in the victim's browser session, potentially allowing for session hijacking, data theft, or unauthorized administrative actions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple web interface compromise, as network administrators who rely on these switches for critical infrastructure management may find their management sessions compromised. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to establish persistent access to network management interfaces, potentially leading to complete network control. The risk is particularly elevated because these switches often serve as core network devices with administrative access to critical network segments, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking to escalate privileges and move laterally within network environments. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which describes the use of script-based commands to execute malicious code within target environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-5320 should prioritize immediate firmware updates to versions 16.08.0009, 16.09.0007, or 16.10.0003 respectively, as these releases contain the necessary patches to address the XSS vulnerability. Network administrators should also implement network segmentation to limit access to switch management interfaces, requiring authentication through secure channels such as VPN or dedicated management networks. Additional protective measures include enabling web application firewalls to filter malicious input, implementing strict access controls for switch management interfaces, and monitoring for suspicious activities in switch logs that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability assessments and security audits of network infrastructure should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited by threat actors.