CVE-2022-37907 in ArubaOS
Summary
by MITRE • 12/12/2022
A vulnerability exists in the ArubaOS bootloader on 7xxx series controllers which can result in a denial of service (DoS) condition on an impacted system. A successful attacker can cause a system hang which can only be resolved via a power cycle of the impacted controller.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-37907 represents a critical denial of service weakness within the ArubaOS bootloader implementation on 7xxx series wireless controllers. This flaw specifically affects the boot process and system initialization sequence, creating a condition where legitimate system operations can be disrupted through malicious exploitation. The vulnerability resides at the foundational level of the operating system, making it particularly dangerous as it operates below the normal application layers where most security controls are implemented. The affected controllers are part of Aruba's enterprise wireless infrastructure, which serves as critical network access points for organizations relying on wireless connectivity for business operations. The bootloader vulnerability creates a fundamental weakness that can be exploited to compromise the availability of the entire wireless network infrastructure, potentially affecting thousands of connected devices and users within the impacted network segments.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of boot sequence initialization within the ArubaOS environment, specifically within the 7xxx series controller architecture. When an attacker successfully triggers the vulnerability, the system enters a state where normal processing halts and the controller becomes unresponsive to network traffic and management commands. This condition manifests as a complete system hang that requires physical intervention to resolve, specifically necessitating a power cycle of the affected hardware. The root cause of this behavior aligns with CWE-122, which describes improper restriction of operations within a memory buffer, though in this case the buffer overflow or memory corruption occurs during the boot process rather than runtime operations. The vulnerability's exploitation pathway likely involves sending crafted boot parameters or manipulating the bootloader's initialization routines to trigger an unrecoverable system state that prevents normal boot sequence completion.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-37907 extends beyond simple service interruption to create significant business continuity risks for organizations dependent on wireless infrastructure. When a wireless controller becomes unresponsive due to this vulnerability, it creates a cascading effect that can disable network access for all connected wireless devices, including critical business applications and services that rely on wireless connectivity. The requirement for physical power cycling to restore functionality introduces additional operational complexity and downtime, as network administrators must either have physical access to the equipment or coordinate with facility personnel to perform the necessary hardware resets. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability component of the CIA triad and can be classified under the ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers the use of network denial of service attacks. The attack surface for this vulnerability is particularly concerning as it can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication, making it accessible to threat actors who may have limited network access or who can leverage other initial compromise vectors to reach the vulnerable boot process.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-37907 must address both immediate operational concerns and longer-term security posture improvements. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate wireless controllers from critical network segments, reducing the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The most effective immediate solution involves applying the vendor-provided security patches or firmware updates that address the bootloader implementation weakness. Network administrators should also establish monitoring procedures to detect system hang conditions and implement automated alerting mechanisms that can notify security teams of potential exploitation attempts. Configuration management practices should include regular verification of controller firmware versions and implementation of change control processes to prevent unauthorized modifications to boot parameters. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-1004 indicates that it represents a weakness that should be addressed through proper input validation and memory management practices during the boot process. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing redundant wireless infrastructure to provide failover capabilities when primary controllers become unavailable due to this type of denial of service condition, ensuring continued business operations during exploitation attempts.