CVE-2020-24633 in 9000 Gateway
Summary
by MITRE • 12/11/2020
There are multiple buffer overflow vulnerabilities that could lead to unauthenticated remote code execution by sending especially crafted packets destined to the PAPI (Aruba Networks AP management protocol) UDP port (8211) of access-points or controllers in Aruba 9000 Gateway; Aruba 7000 Series Mobility Controllers; Aruba 7200 Series Mobility Controllers version(s): 2.1.0.1, 2.2.0.0 and below; 6.4.4.23, 6.5.4.17, 8.2.2.9, 8.3.0.13, 8.5.0.10, 8.6.0.5, 8.7.0.0 and below; 6.4.4.23, 6.5.4.17, 8.2.2.9, 8.3.0.13, 8.5.0.10, 8.6.0.5, 8.7.0.0 and below.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-24633 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within Aruba's PAPI (Aruba Networks AP management protocol) implementation that affects multiple series of wireless controllers and gateways. This vulnerability specifically targets the UDP port 8211 which serves as the primary communication channel for managing access points and controllers in Aruba's networking infrastructure. The flaw exists in the processing of incoming packets that are destined for this port, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected devices without requiring authentication. The vulnerability impacts a broad range of Aruba hardware including the 9000 Gateway series, 7000 Series Mobility Controllers, and 7200 Series Mobility Controllers, making it particularly concerning given the widespread deployment of these devices in enterprise and campus network environments. The affected software versions span multiple release branches, indicating this flaw has persisted across several major releases and suggests a fundamental issue in the protocol implementation that was not adequately addressed through standard security patches.
The technical nature of this buffer overflow vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and bounds checking within the PAPI protocol handler. When malformed packets are received on UDP port 8211, the system fails to properly validate the size and structure of incoming data before processing it, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations in the application's memory space. This memory corruption can be exploited to redirect program execution flow, ultimately enabling remote code execution on the targeted device. The vulnerability operates at the network protocol level, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited from outside the network perimeter, potentially allowing attackers to gain control of wireless access points and controllers without requiring any credentials or prior access to the network. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and potentially CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities. The attack surface is significantly expanded by the fact that the affected devices typically operate in network infrastructure roles where they are accessible from external networks or adjacent network segments, increasing the likelihood of exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, particularly for organizations relying on Aruba wireless infrastructure for critical network operations. Successful exploitation could result in complete compromise of wireless access points and controllers, enabling attackers to gain persistent access to the network infrastructure and potentially escalate privileges to gain broader network access. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish backdoors, monitor wireless traffic, disrupt network services, or use the compromised devices as launching points for further attacks against internal network resources. The unauthenticated nature of the exploit means that organizations could be compromised without any indication of intrusion, as the attack could occur silently in the background. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage, T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, and T1046 for network service discovery, making it a particularly dangerous vector for advanced persistent threats. The widespread deployment of affected devices across enterprise networks, educational institutions, and government organizations creates a significant risk profile, as a single successful exploitation could compromise large portions of wireless infrastructure within an organization.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through official Aruba security patches and firmware updates that address the buffer overflow conditions in the PAPI protocol implementation. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of affected devices to untrusted networks, while monitoring for anomalous network traffic on UDP port 8211 should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's nature as a remote code execution flaw without authentication requirements necessitates immediate action regardless of the network's perceived security posture, as it represents a critical risk to network infrastructure integrity. Additional defensive measures should include implementing network access control lists to restrict UDP port 8211 access to trusted sources only, deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for malformed PAPI packets, and conducting comprehensive network assessments to identify all potentially affected devices. Organizations should also consider implementing zero-trust network access models that would limit the blast radius of any successful exploitation, while maintaining detailed network traffic logs to aid in incident response efforts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security assessments of network infrastructure components and the need for robust input validation mechanisms in protocol implementations, particularly for critical infrastructure components that operate with minimal authentication requirements.