CVE-2023-22748 in ArubaOS
Summary
by MITRE • 03/01/2023
There are multiple command injection vulnerabilities that could lead to unauthenticated remote code execution by sending specially crafted packets destined to the PAPI (Aruba Networks access point management protocol) UDP port (8211). Successful exploitation of these vulnerabilities result in the ability to execute arbitrary code as a privileged user on the underlying operating system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-22748 represents a critical command injection flaw within Aruba Networks access point management protocol implementation. This vulnerability specifically affects the PAPI protocol which operates on UDP port 8211, making it accessible to unauthenticated attackers who can craft malicious packets to exploit the system. The flaw resides in how the system processes incoming packets destined for this management port, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary commands that are subsequently executed with elevated privileges. This represents a severe security weakness as it bypasses traditional authentication mechanisms and provides direct access to the underlying operating system with administrative capabilities.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories, which specifically address command injection flaws and arbitrary code execution vulnerabilities respectively. These weaknesses enable attackers to manipulate the system's command processing mechanisms, transforming what should be legitimate management traffic into a vector for malicious code execution. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only the ability to send packets to the designated UDP port, eliminating the need for prior authentication or authorization. This characteristic makes it particularly dangerous in network environments where such management ports might be exposed to untrusted networks or where proper network segmentation has not been implemented.
From an operational impact perspective, successful exploitation of CVE-2023-22748 provides attackers with complete control over affected network access points and potentially the entire network infrastructure managed by those devices. The execution occurs with privileged user permissions, meaning that attackers can modify system configurations, install malware, exfiltrate sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors within the network. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, enabling attackers to move laterally through networks and maintain persistent access. The impact extends beyond individual devices to potentially compromise entire wireless network segments and associated infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate network segmentation and access control measures to restrict access to UDP port 8211. Organizations should implement network access control lists to prevent unauthorized systems from reaching the management port, while also ensuring that any exposed management interfaces are properly secured through authentication mechanisms. Regular security updates and patches should be deployed immediately upon vendor release, as the vulnerability affects core network infrastructure components. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual traffic patterns on the affected UDP port, and security teams should implement intrusion detection systems specifically configured to identify command injection attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive network audits to identify all devices running the vulnerable PAPI protocol implementation and ensure proper network isolation of critical management interfaces. The vulnerability highlights the importance of securing network management protocols and demonstrates how unauthenticated access to critical infrastructure ports can result in complete system compromise.