CVE-2023-4896 in AirWave Management Platform
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
A vulnerability exists which allows an authenticated attacker to access sensitive information on the AirWave Management Platform web-based management interface. Successful exploitation allows the attacker to gain access to some data that could be further exploited to laterally access devices managed and monitored by the AirWave server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-4896 represents a critical access control flaw within the AirWave Management Platform, a widely deployed solution for wireless network management and monitoring. This platform serves as a central hub for managing Aruba wireless access points, controllers, and other network infrastructure components, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to establish persistent access within enterprise wireless networks. The vulnerability specifically resides in the web-based management interface, which is designed to provide administrators with comprehensive oversight of their wireless environments while maintaining strict access controls to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive operational data.
The technical nature of this flaw stems from insufficient authentication and authorization checks within the AirWave platform's web interface implementation. An authenticated attacker who has already gained access to the system through legitimate means can exploit this weakness to access sensitive information that should remain restricted to authorized personnel only. This represents a privilege escalation vulnerability where the attacker can move beyond their initial access level to obtain data that could reveal network topology, device configurations, user credentials, and other operational details that are typically protected by proper access controls. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the platform's existing authentication mechanisms to bypass intended security boundaries, making it particularly dangerous as it requires minimal additional effort beyond initial access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple information disclosure, as the sensitive data accessible through this flaw can serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks within the network infrastructure. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain insights into wireless network configurations, device management credentials, and monitoring data that could enable lateral movement throughout the enterprise network. This aligns with the attack pattern described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1087.001 technique for account discovery and T1046 technique for network service scanning, as the attacker can use this information to map network topology and identify additional targets for compromise. The platform's role as a central management point means that access to this information essentially provides a roadmap for further network infiltration and compromise of connected devices.
Organizations utilizing AirWave Management Platform should immediately implement mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates as soon as they become available. Network segmentation and access control measures should be enhanced to limit the blast radius of potential exploitation, particularly restricting direct network access to the AirWave management interface. Regular security audits should be conducted to monitor for unauthorized access attempts and to validate the effectiveness of implemented controls. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) highlights the fundamental security principle that access controls must be properly enforced at all levels of the application stack, and the ATT&CK framework's mapping to lateral movement techniques emphasizes the need for comprehensive network monitoring and access control validation. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify anomalous access patterns to management interfaces and provide early warning of potential exploitation attempts.