CVE-2022-37887 in InstantOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/07/2022
There are buffer overflow vulnerabilities in multiple underlying services that could lead to unauthenticated remote code execution by sending specially crafted packets destined to the PAPI (Aruba Networks AP management protocol) UDP port (8211). Successful exploitation of these vulnerabilities results in the ability to execute arbitrary code as a privileged user on the underlying operating system of Aruba InstantOS 6.4.x: 6.4.4.8-4.2.4.20 and below; Aruba InstantOS 6.5.x: 6.5.4.23 and below; Aruba InstantOS 8.6.x: 8.6.0.18 and below; Aruba InstantOS 8.7.x: 8.7.1.9 and below; Aruba InstantOS 8.10.x: 8.10.0.1 and below; ArubaOS 10.3.x: 10.3.1.0 and below; Aruba has released upgrades for Aruba InnstantOS that address these security vulnerabilities.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/19/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-37887 represents a critical buffer overflow condition affecting Aruba Networks wireless access point management infrastructure. This flaw exists within the PAPI protocol implementation across multiple Aruba InstantOS and ArubaOS versions, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit without authentication. The vulnerability specifically targets UDP port 8211 which serves as the primary communication channel for Aruba AP management operations, making it a prime target for remote exploitation attempts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the PAPI service handlers that process incoming packets destined for the designated UDP port. When malformed or oversized data packets are transmitted to port 8211, the underlying buffer management mechanisms fail to properly bounds-check the incoming data, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged to overwrite critical program execution flow. This buffer overflow condition manifests as a classic stack-based or heap-based overflow depending on the specific implementation details, allowing attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code within the privileged execution context of the affected operating systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple remote code execution capabilities, as successful exploitation grants attackers elevated privileges to manipulate the underlying operating system with full administrative control. This compromise enables adversaries to establish persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive network data, modify wireless access policies, and potentially escalate their foothold to compromise additional network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Aruba operating systems spanning multiple version lines including 6.4.x, 6.5.x, 8.6.x, 8.7.x, and 8.10.x releases, indicating a widespread exposure across the vendor's product portfolio. Network administrators face significant risk as these vulnerabilities can be exploited from external network positions without requiring any authentication credentials, making them particularly dangerous in environments where wireless access points are exposed to untrusted network segments.
Security practitioners should recognize this vulnerability as mapping to CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter. The attack vector demonstrates characteristics of remote exploitation through network services, with the vulnerability being classified as a remote code execution flaw that requires no user interaction or authentication. Organizations should prioritize immediate patch deployment across all affected systems, as the vulnerability provides direct path to system compromise and persistent access. The affected versions include Aruba InstantOS 6.4.x through 6.4.4.8-4.2.4.20, 6.5.x through 6.5.4.23, 8.6.x through 8.6.0.18, 8.7.x through 8.7.1.9, and 8.10.x through 8.10.0.1, along with ArubaOS 10.3.x through 10.3.1.0, representing a substantial portion of the vendor's wireless infrastructure ecosystem. The remediation process should include comprehensive network segmentation, monitoring for anomalous traffic patterns on UDP port 8211, and implementation of network access controls to limit exposure of affected devices to untrusted networks.