CVE-2023-30502 in EdgeConnect Enterprise
Summary
by MITRE • 05/16/2023
Vulnerabilities exist in the Aruba EdgeConnect Enterprise command line interface that allow remote authenticated users to run arbitrary commands on the underlying host. Successful exploitation of these vulnerabilities result in the ability to execute arbitrary commands as root on the underlying operating system leading to complete system compromise.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-30502 resides within the Aruba EdgeConnect Enterprise command line interface, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying host system. This vulnerability specifically targets the command line interface component of the EdgeConnect Enterprise platform, which serves as a critical management interface for network security policies and device configuration. The flaw allows attackers who have already established authentication credentials to escalate their privileges and gain full control over the operating system through command injection mechanisms. The affected system operates with elevated privileges, making the exploitation particularly dangerous as it provides attackers with root-level access to the underlying operating system.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the command line interface implementation. When authenticated users submit commands through the interface, the system fails to properly sanitize or validate the input parameters before executing them on the host system. This creates a command injection vulnerability that allows attackers to append malicious commands to legitimate operations, effectively bypassing normal access controls and privilege boundaries. The vulnerability manifests as a failure to properly separate user input from command execution contexts, enabling attackers to inject additional commands that execute with the same privileges as the legitimate user interface process. This type of flaw aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-89 categories, which specifically address command injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is incorporated into system commands without proper validation or escaping mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-30502 extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides complete system compromise capabilities that can lead to data exfiltration, lateral movement, and persistent access within network environments. Once an attacker achieves root-level command execution, they can manipulate system files, install backdoors, modify network configurations, and establish persistence mechanisms that could remain undetected for extended periods. The vulnerability affects the EdgeConnect Enterprise platform's management interface, which typically requires administrative credentials to access, making it particularly concerning as it allows attackers who have already compromised legitimate administrative accounts to escalate their access further. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically targeting the execution of system commands through legitimate interfaces. The complete compromise potential makes this vulnerability a prime target for advanced persistent threat actors seeking to establish long-term access to network infrastructure.
Organizations utilizing Aruba EdgeConnect Enterprise systems should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, including applying vendor-provided security patches and updates as soon as they become available. Network segmentation strategies should be implemented to limit access to the command line interface to only essential administrative personnel, while also enforcing strict access control measures and monitoring for unusual command execution patterns. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify potential exploitation attempts, and system logging should be enhanced to capture command execution activities within the interface. The vulnerability highlights the importance of principle of least privilege enforcement and proper input validation across all system components, particularly those with elevated privileges or direct system access capabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous command execution patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability can be leveraged to perform operations that appear legitimate within the system's normal operational context.