CVE-2022-44533 in EdgeConnect Enterprise
Summary
by MITRE • 12/12/2022
A vulnerability in the Aruba EdgeConnect Enterprise web management interface allows remote authenticated users to run arbitrary commands on the underlying host. A successful exploit could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary commands as root on the underlying operating system leading to complete system compromise in Aruba EdgeConnect Enterprise Software version(s): ECOS 9.2.1.0 and below; ECOS 9.1.3.0 and below; ECOS 9.0.7.0 and below; ECOS 8.3.7.1 and below.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/13/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical command injection flaw in the Aruba EdgeConnect Enterprise web management interface that fundamentally compromises system security through improper input validation. The vulnerability exists within the web administration component where authenticated users can manipulate input parameters to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying host system. This type of flaw falls under CWE-77 which specifically addresses command injection vulnerabilities, where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into system commands without proper sanitization or validation. The affected versions span multiple major releases including ECOS 9.2.1.0 and below, ECOS 9.1.3.0 and below, ECOS 9.0.7.0 and below, and ECOS 8.3.7.1 and below, indicating this represents a persistent issue across several software versions. The attack vector requires remote authenticated access, meaning that an attacker must first obtain valid credentials to exploit this vulnerability, though this does not significantly reduce the risk as legitimate administrative access is often sufficient to gain initial foothold.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and encompasses complete system compromise through arbitrary code execution with root privileges. When exploited successfully, attackers can execute commands as the root user on the underlying operating system, providing them with unrestricted access to all system resources, files, and services. This level of privilege escalation allows for complete data exfiltration, system modification, service disruption, and potential lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability essentially provides an attacker with a backdoor to the core system, bypassing traditional security controls and allowing for persistent access. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and script interpreter, enabling adversaries to execute malicious commands and maintain control over the compromised system.
The technical implementation of this flaw likely involves improper handling of user input within the web management interface, where parameters passed to system commands are not adequately sanitized or validated. This type of vulnerability often occurs when developers assume that input from authenticated users is safe, failing to implement proper input validation or output encoding mechanisms. The exploitation process would typically involve crafting malicious input that gets processed by the system command execution functions, allowing attackers to inject additional commands that execute with the privileges of the web application process, ultimately escalating to root access. Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including patching to the latest software versions, implementing network segmentation to limit access to management interfaces, and applying strict access controls and monitoring for suspicious command execution patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure input handling and privilege separation in web applications, particularly those managing network infrastructure components where administrative access can lead to widespread system compromise.