CVE-2024-26298 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-2024-26298 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 solution for managing their wireless and wired network infrastructure. The vulnerability exists in the web interface component that handles user authentication and administrative operations, creating a pathway for authenticated attackers to escalate their privileges and execute arbitrary code on the underlying host system.
This command injection vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the web application's parameter handling mechanisms. When authenticated users submit specific inputs through the management interface, the application fails to properly sanitize these parameters before processing them in system commands. The flaw allows an attacker who has already established valid credentials to manipulate the application's behavior and inject malicious commands that are then executed with the privileges of the web application process. According to CWE-77, this vulnerability maps directly to command injection flaws that occur when untrusted data is passed to system commands without proper validation or encoding.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and potentially catastrophic for affected organizations. Successful exploitation enables attackers to execute arbitrary commands as root on the underlying operating system, effectively providing complete administrative control over the ClearPass Policy Manager server. This level of access allows threat actors to modify system configurations, install backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive network authentication data, and potentially use the compromised system as a pivot point to attack other network components. The vulnerability undermines the fundamental security model of network access control systems, which are designed to protect organizational networks from unauthorized access and malicious activities.
Organizations affected by CVE-2024-26298 should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches as soon as they become available. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit the attack surface of the ClearPass Policy Manager system. Monitoring for suspicious authentication patterns and command execution attempts should be enhanced through security information and event management systems. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreter, and T1078 which covers valid accounts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other network management systems. System administrators should also consider implementing additional layers of authentication and privilege management to reduce the impact if such vulnerabilities are exploited in the future.