CVE-2023-22766 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 vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-22766 represents a critical authenticated command injection flaw within the ArubaOS command line interface implementation. This security weakness resides in the network operating system used by Aruba wireless access points and network infrastructure devices, affecting organizations that rely on Aruba's enterprise networking solutions. The vulnerability specifically targets the command line interface component that processes user inputs, creating an avenue for malicious actors who have already gained legitimate authentication credentials to escalate their privileges and execute arbitrary system commands with elevated privileges. The flaw demonstrates a classic command injection vulnerability pattern where user-supplied input is improperly sanitized before being processed by the underlying operating system shell, allowing attackers to inject malicious commands that bypass normal access controls and execute with the privileges of the privileged user account.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability operates at the intersection of improper input validation and privilege escalation mechanisms within the ArubaOS environment. The command line interface fails to properly validate or sanitize user inputs before passing them to system execution functions, creating a direct path for command injection attacks. When authenticated users submit commands through the CLI interface, the system does not adequately separate user input from system commands, allowing attackers to append malicious payloads that get executed within the context of the privileged user. This behavior aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-78 classification standards, which specifically address command injection vulnerabilities where user-controllable data is executed as system commands without proper sanitization. The attack vector leverages the existing authentication mechanism to gain initial access, then exploits the insecure command processing to achieve arbitrary code execution, representing a sophisticated attack pattern that combines authentication bypass techniques with command injection exploits.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-22766 extends beyond simple unauthorized command execution, as it provides attackers with complete control over the underlying operating system of affected Aruba devices. This privilege escalation capability allows adversaries to modify network configurations, install malicious software, access sensitive data, and potentially use the compromised devices as launch points for further attacks within the network infrastructure. Organizations running ArubaOS devices face significant risks including network disruption, data breaches, and potential lateral movement attacks that could compromise entire network segments. The vulnerability's authenticated nature means that attackers must first obtain valid credentials, but this requirement does not significantly reduce the overall risk as privileged accounts are often targeted in credential theft attacks, and the vulnerability allows for complete system compromise once access is gained. The impact is particularly severe in enterprise environments where Aruba devices form critical components of network infrastructure, potentially affecting thousands of connected devices and network services.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-22766 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from Aruba, as this represents a critical vulnerability requiring urgent attention. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit the potential impact of compromise, ensuring that even if one device is compromised, attackers cannot easily move laterally through the network. Access controls should be strengthened through multi-factor authentication implementation and regular credential rotation practices to reduce the likelihood of unauthorized access. Network monitoring solutions should be enhanced to detect unusual command execution patterns and anomalous CLI usage that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also implement regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses in other network infrastructure components, particularly those using similar command processing mechanisms. The mitigation approach should align with ATT&CK framework techniques related to privilege escalation and command and control operations, ensuring comprehensive protection against exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should maintain detailed network documentation and implement strict change management processes to quickly identify and respond to unauthorized modifications to network infrastructure components.