CVE-2023-38485 in 9000
Summary
by MITRE • 09/06/2023
Vulnerabilities exist in the BIOS implementation of Aruba 9200 and 9000 Series Controllers and Gateways that could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code early in the boot sequence. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to gain access to and change underlying sensitive information in the affected controller leading to complete system compromise.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/02/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-38485 represents a critical security flaw within the BIOS implementation of Aruba 9200 and 9000 Series Controllers and Gateways. This issue resides in the early boot sequence of these network infrastructure devices, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited before the system has fully initialized its security mechanisms. The affected hardware platforms are widely deployed in enterprise network environments where they serve as critical control points for wireless network management and gateway functions.
This vulnerability enables attackers to execute arbitrary code during the initial boot process, which constitutes a fundamental breach of the system's integrity. The technical flaw essentially allows for code execution before the normal security controls and authentication mechanisms are operational, creating a window of opportunity for malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to the underlying system. The exploitation occurs at a level below the operating system, making traditional software-based defenses ineffective against this attack vector. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-254 as it represents a weakness in the security model that allows execution of arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and potentially catastrophic for affected organizations. Successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, allowing attackers to gain full control over the network controller and subsequently access all connected wireless networks. The attacker could modify sensitive information stored within the device, potentially altering network configurations, credentials, or other critical operational parameters. This compromise extends beyond the immediate device to potentially affect the entire wireless infrastructure it manages, as these controllers often serve as central points for network policy enforcement and user authentication.
From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to several ATT&CK techniques including T1068 for local privilege escalation and T1542 for exploitation of system boot processes. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that these devices are typically located in network core infrastructure where physical access may be limited but the potential for remote exploitation remains high. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring for unusual boot behavior or unauthorized modifications to device firmware. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date firmware and implementing robust supply chain security measures to prevent malicious code injection during the manufacturing and deployment phases of these critical network devices.