CVE-2021-40992 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 • 10/20/2021
The CVE-2021-40992 vulnerability represents a critical remote SQL injection flaw within Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager software across multiple version ranges including 6.10.x before 6.10.2, 6.9.x before 6.9.7-HF1, and 6.8.x before 6.8.9-HF1. This vulnerability resides in the authentication and authorization mechanisms of the ClearPass Policy Manager, which serves as a central access control platform for enterprise networks. The affected system processes user input through web interfaces and API endpoints that fail to properly sanitize or validate incoming data before incorporating it into SQL queries. This flaw allows an unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database system, potentially compromising the entire access control infrastructure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of input parameters within the ClearPass Policy Manager's web interface or API endpoints. When user credentials or other input data are submitted to the system, the application fails to implement proper input validation or parameterized query construction. Attackers can craft malicious SQL payloads that bypass authentication mechanisms and gain unauthorized access to the database backend. The vulnerability falls under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper sanitization. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in network access control systems as it can provide attackers with complete control over user access policies and network permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity and security of the entire ClearPass Policy Manager deployment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can access sensitive user credentials, network access policies, device authentication records, and other critical system information stored within the database. The compromise of such a central access control system can lead to widespread network infiltration, privilege escalation, and potential lateral movement throughout the enterprise network. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) as attackers may leverage the compromised system to establish persistent access and exfiltrate data through various network protocols. The vulnerability also aligns with T1046 (Network Service Scanning) and T1566 (Phishing) as attackers may use the compromised system to launch further attacks against other network segments.
Organizations utilizing affected ClearPass Policy Manager versions should immediately implement the patches released by Aruba to address this vulnerability. The remediation process requires careful planning and execution to ensure minimal disruption to network access services while applying the security fixes. System administrators should also conduct thorough network monitoring to detect any signs of exploitation attempts before patching, as attackers may attempt to exploit this vulnerability in the days following public disclosure. Additional defensive measures include implementing network segmentation to limit access to the ClearPass Policy Manager system, deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious SQL injection attempts, and conducting regular security assessments of the access control infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches in enterprise access control systems and highlights the need for robust input validation mechanisms in all web applications processing user data.