CVE-2022-23682 in ArubaOS-CX
Summary
by MITRE • 09/06/2022
Multiple vulnerabilities exist in the AOS-CX command line interface that could lead to authenticated command injection. A successful exploit could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary commands as root on the underlying operating system leading to complete switch compromise in ArubaOS-CX version(s): AOS-CX 10.09.xxxx: 10.09.1030 and below, AOS-CX 10.08.xxxx: 10.08.1030 and below, AOS-CX 10.06.xxxx: 10.06.0180 and below. Aruba has released upgrades for ArubaOS-CX Switch Devices that address these security vulnerabilities.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-23682 represents a critical authenticated command injection flaw within the ArubaOS-CX command line interface implementation. This vulnerability affects multiple versions of the ArubaOS-CX operating system, specifically targeting releases up to and including AOS-CX 10.09.1030, 10.08.1030, and 10.06.0180. The flaw resides in the handling of user input within the command line interface, creating a pathway for authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges on the underlying operating system. This represents a severe escalation of privileges vulnerability that fundamentally undermines the security posture of affected network switches.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the command line interface processing mechanisms. When authenticated users interact with the CLI, the system fails to properly escape or filter command sequences that could contain malicious payloads. This allows an attacker who has gained legitimate authentication credentials to inject additional commands that bypass normal execution restrictions. The vulnerability specifically enables command injection attacks that can execute arbitrary code with the highest system privileges, effectively granting attackers complete control over the switch's operational environment. This type of flaw aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories, which encompass command injection vulnerabilities and improper input sanitization respectively. The ATT&CK framework would classify this as a privilege escalation technique under the T1068 category, specifically targeting local privilege escalation to root-level access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables complete compromise of network infrastructure devices. An attacker with valid credentials could leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary commands, potentially leading to data exfiltration, network disruption, or use of the compromised switch as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. The root-level execution capability means that attackers could modify system configurations, install backdoors, or disable security features entirely. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise network environments where ArubaOS-CX switches serve as critical infrastructure components, potentially allowing attackers to gain persistent access to network core devices and undermine the integrity of network communications. The affected versions span multiple release lines, indicating this was likely a widespread issue affecting various network deployment scenarios.
Aruba has addressed this vulnerability through official software upgrades and patches for affected ArubaOS-CX switch devices. Organizations should immediately assess their network inventory to identify affected devices and apply the recommended firmware updates. Network administrators should also implement additional monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and consider network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful attacks. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security updates and proper input validation in network infrastructure software. Organizations should also review their access control policies and implement principle of least privilege to minimize the impact of authenticated attacks. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to command injection attempts and ensure that network switches are properly configured to limit the attack surface of CLI interfaces.