CVE-2023-22765 in ArubaOS
Summary
by MITRE • 03/01/2023
Authenticated command injection vulnerabilities exist in the ArubaOS command line interface. Successful exploitation of these vulnerabilities result in the ability to execute arbitrary commands as a privileged user on the underlying operating system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2025
The CVE-2023-22765 vulnerability represents a critical authenticated command injection flaw within ArubaOS command line interface components that directly compromises system integrity and operational security. This vulnerability specifically targets the authentication mechanisms of Aruba's network operating system, allowing authenticated users to escalate their privileges and execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system with elevated permissions. The flaw exists in the way the system processes user input through the command line interface, creating a path for malicious command injection attacks that bypass normal security controls.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability operates as a command injection flaw that falls under the CWE-77 category, specifically classified as CWE-77: Command Injection, which is a well-documented weakness in software systems where user-supplied data is improperly sanitized before being executed as system commands. The vulnerability manifests when the ArubaOS command line interface fails to properly validate or escape user input, allowing attackers to inject malicious commands that get executed with the privileges of the authenticated user. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires only authenticated access, meaning that an attacker who has gained legitimate credentials can leverage this flaw to escalate their privileges and gain unauthorized system-level access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system with root-level privileges. This access enables comprehensive system compromise including but not limited to data exfiltration, system modification, installation of persistent backdoors, and complete network infrastructure takeover. The implications are particularly severe for network security devices such as wireless controllers, switches, and access points that rely on ArubaOS, as these systems typically serve as critical infrastructure components with elevated privileges and access to sensitive network data. The vulnerability creates a pathway for attackers to potentially disrupt network operations, steal confidential information, or establish persistent access points within the network environment.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches provided by Aruba, implementing network segmentation to limit access to affected systems, and monitoring for suspicious command execution patterns in system logs. The vulnerability also aligns with several ATT&CK framework techniques including T1059.001 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1548.001 Abuse of Functionality, which describe how adversaries can leverage legitimate system tools and functionalities to execute malicious commands and maintain persistence. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as privileged access management solutions, regular security assessments, and comprehensive monitoring of command line activities to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation and the principle of least privilege in network security implementations, as it demonstrates how authenticated access can be exploited to achieve unauthorized system control.