CVE-2020-7120 in ClearPass Policy Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 02/24/2021
A local authenticated buffer overflow vulnerability was discovered in Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager version(s): Prior to 6.9.5, 6.8.8-HF1, 6.7.14-HF1. A vulnerability in ClearPass OnGuard could allow local authenticated users to cause a buffer overflow condition. A successful exploit could allow a local attacker to execute arbitrary code within the context the binary is running in, which is a lower privileged account.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/04/2021
The CVE-2020-7120 vulnerability represents a critical local buffer overflow flaw within Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager software, affecting multiple version lines including those prior to 6.9.5, 6.8.8-HF1, and 6.7.14-HF1. This vulnerability resides within the ClearPass OnGuard component and constitutes a serious security weakness that directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of network access control systems. The flaw specifically targets authenticated local users who can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized code execution privileges, making it particularly dangerous in environments where privileged access is required for system administration.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the ClearPass Policy Manager's OnGuard functionality. When authenticated local users interact with specific system components, the software fails to properly bounds-check user-supplied input data before copying it into fixed-size buffers. This classic programming error creates an exploitable condition where malicious input can overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting program execution flow and allowing attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability operates at the privilege level of the binary context, meaning that while the executed code runs with lower privileges, successful exploitation can still lead to further compromise of the system through privilege escalation techniques or lateral movement within the network infrastructure.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on Aruba ClearPass for network access control and policy enforcement. The local authentication requirement means that attackers must first obtain legitimate user credentials, but once achieved, they can leverage this vulnerability to execute code with the privileges of the running service, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The impact extends beyond immediate code execution as attackers could use this foothold to establish persistent access, exfiltrate sensitive authentication data, or manipulate network access policies to gain unauthorized network access. This vulnerability directly impacts the CIA triad by potentially compromising confidentiality through data exfiltration, integrity through policy manipulation, and availability through service disruption.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including applying the vendor-provided security patches for versions 6.9.5, 6.8.8-HF1, and 6.7.14-HF1 to address this vulnerability. Network segmentation and privilege minimization should be enforced to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual authentication patterns and code execution activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and maps to ATT&CK techniques including privilege escalation and execution through legitimate system processes, making it a significant concern for cybersecurity teams implementing comprehensive threat detection and response strategies.