CVE-2024-26297 in Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 02/28/2024
Vulnerabilities in the ClearPass Policy Manager web-based management interface allow remote authenticated users to run arbitrary commands on the underlying host. A successful exploit could allow an attacker 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 • 03/28/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-26297 represents a critical command injection flaw within the ClearPass Policy Manager web-based management interface. This issue affects organizations that rely on Aruba's network access control solutions for managing their wireless and wired network infrastructure. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the web application's processing logic, which fails to properly validate user-supplied data before executing system commands. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious input through the web interface that gets interpreted and executed by the underlying operating system. The flaw specifically manifests when authenticated users submit crafted payloads that bypass security controls and directly influence command execution paths within the application's backend processes. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the privilege level of the web application itself, which typically runs with elevated permissions necessary for system management operations. The security implications extend beyond simple command execution as the compromised system can be leveraged for further lateral movement within the network infrastructure, making it a prime target for attackers seeking persistent access to enterprise environments. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-78 as a failure to sanitize system command arguments, which directly maps to the command injection attack pattern documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under technique T1059.001 for command and script injection.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2024-26297 requires an attacker to first authenticate to the ClearPass Policy Manager interface, which significantly reduces the attack surface compared to fully unauthenticated vulnerabilities. However, this authentication requirement does not adequately protect against privilege escalation attacks once initial access is achieved. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that the ClearPass Policy Manager typically operates with administrative privileges on the underlying host system, meaning successful exploitation results in full system compromise with root-level access. This allows attackers to modify system configurations, install backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, and establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it leverages the legitimate administrative interface that network administrators regularly use, making malicious activities appear as normal administrative operations. The vulnerability's exploitation can lead to complete network infrastructure compromise, especially in environments where ClearPass Policy Manager serves as a central point for network access control and policy enforcement. Organizations using this solution may find their entire wireless and wired network access control systems compromised, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive network resources and data.
Organizations affected by CVE-2024-26297 must implement immediate mitigations to protect their network infrastructure from potential exploitation. The primary recommendation involves applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates as soon as they become available, which typically address the input validation and sanitization issues within the web application. Network segmentation and access control measures should be enhanced to limit access to the ClearPass Policy Manager interface to only authorized personnel with legitimate administrative needs. Implementing additional authentication controls such as multi-factor authentication can provide an additional layer of protection even if the primary authentication mechanism is compromised. Regular monitoring of web application logs for suspicious activities and command execution patterns should be established to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as a critical risk under CVSS scoring systems indicates that immediate remediation is essential, as attackers can leverage this weakness to achieve complete system compromise with minimal effort. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify other potential command injection vulnerabilities within their network infrastructure, as similar flaws may exist in other components of their security ecosystem. The incident response plan should include specific procedures for detecting and responding to exploitation attempts, including network traffic analysis and system forensics to determine the full scope of any compromise. Given the ATT&CK framework's categorization of this vulnerability, organizations should also consider implementing defensive measures against command injection attacks in their broader security architecture, including web application firewalls and runtime application self-protection mechanisms.