CVE-2021-37737 in ClearPass Policy Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 10/15/2021
A remote SQL injection vulnerability was discovered in Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager version(s): ClearPass Policy Manager 6.10.x prior to 6.10.2 - - ClearPass Policy Manager 6.9.x prior to 6.9.7-HF1 - - ClearPass Policy Manager 6.8.x prior to 6.8.9-HF1. Aruba has released patches for ClearPass Policy Manager that address this security vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/22/2021
The CVE-2021-37737 vulnerability represents a critical remote SQL injection flaw affecting Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager across multiple version lines including 6.10.x prior to 6.10.2, 6.9.x prior to 6.9.7-HF1, and 6.8.x prior to 6.8.9-HF1. This vulnerability resides within the authentication and authorization framework of the ClearPass Policy Manager system, which serves as a central access control platform for enterprise networks. The flaw allows unauthenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database, potentially compromising the entire access control infrastructure. The vulnerability specifically impacts the system's handling of user input within authentication queries, where insufficient input validation and sanitization permits malicious SQL payloads to be injected into database operations. This issue falls under CWE-89 which categorizes SQL injection vulnerabilities as a fundamental weakness in input validation and data handling processes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data compromise, as the ClearPass Policy Manager serves as a critical network access control solution managing authentication, authorization, and accounting functions for enterprise environments. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to sensitive user credentials, network access policies, and system configuration data stored within the database. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that ClearPass Policy Manager typically operates in privileged network environments where it controls access to critical infrastructure resources. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to escalate privileges, create persistent backdoors, or even take complete control of the network access control system, effectively bypassing all network security controls managed by the platform.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploiting vulnerabilities in network infrastructure components and T1078 for valid accounts usage through compromised authentication systems. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers need only have network access to the affected system to exploit it, making it particularly dangerous in environments where the ClearPass Policy Manager is exposed to untrusted networks. The lack of authentication requirements for exploitation further amplifies the risk, as attackers can target the system without requiring valid credentials or prior access to the network. Organizations using affected versions face significant operational risk, as the vulnerability could allow attackers to move laterally within the network, access sensitive data, or disrupt network access control services that are critical for maintaining network security boundaries.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-37737 primarily focus on immediate patch deployment from Aruba, which addresses the input validation flaws in the authentication processing modules. Organizations should prioritize updating to the patched versions 6.10.2, 6.9.7-HF1, and 6.8.9-HF1 respectively, while implementing network segmentation to limit access to the ClearPass Policy Manager system. Additional protective measures include implementing database query parameterization, conducting thorough input validation at all system interfaces, and deploying network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous database access patterns. Security teams should also perform comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their network access control infrastructure and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing authentication system compromises. The remediation process should include database access logging review and implementation of intrusion detection systems specifically configured to monitor for SQL injection patterns, ensuring that the network environment remains secure against similar vulnerabilities in the future.