CVE-2024-26305 in ArubaOS
Summary
by MITRE • 05/01/2024
There is a buffer overflow vulnerability in the underlying Utility daemon that could lead to unauthenticated remote code execution by sending specially crafted packets destined to the PAPI (Aruba's access point management protocol) UDP port (8211). Successful exploitation of this vulnerability results in the ability to execute arbitrary code as a privileged user on the underlying operating system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-26305 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within Aruba's Utility daemon component that operates as part of the PAPI (Aruba's access point management protocol) infrastructure. This daemon listens on UDP port 8211, making it accessible to unauthenticated remote attackers who can exploit the vulnerability by sending specially crafted packets to this port. The buffer overflow occurs when the daemon processes incoming packets without proper bounds checking, allowing an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations in the application's execution space.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within CWE-121 buffer overflow categories, specifically manifesting as a stack-based buffer overflow that can be leveraged for privilege escalation. The flaw exists in the packet parsing logic of the Utility daemon where input validation is insufficient, enabling attackers to craft malicious payloads that exceed the allocated buffer space. This overflow can overwrite return addresses, function pointers, or other critical memory structures, providing attackers with the ability to redirect execution flow and ultimately execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the daemon process.
From an operational perspective, the impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables unauthenticated remote code execution on the underlying operating system. The attacker does not require any credentials or prior access to the system to exploit this flaw, making it particularly dangerous for network infrastructure devices. Successful exploitation allows the attacker to gain full control over the affected device, potentially enabling them to establish persistent access, exfiltrate sensitive data, or use the compromised device as a launch point for further attacks within the network. The privilege escalation aspect means that even if the daemon runs with limited privileges initially, the successful exploitation can provide root or administrator level access to the entire system.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends beyond individual device compromise to potentially affect entire network infrastructures, particularly in environments where Aruba access points are deployed. Network segmentation and firewall rules that might normally protect internal systems could be bypassed if attackers can reach the UDP port 8211. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation), demonstrating how attackers can leverage network protocols to gain unauthorized access. Organizations should implement immediate network monitoring for suspicious traffic on UDP port 8211 and consider network segmentation to limit potential exploitation. The recommended mitigation includes applying vendor patches promptly, implementing network access controls to restrict access to port 8211, and conducting thorough network assessments to identify potentially compromised devices. Additionally, network administrators should monitor for unusual patterns of traffic to and from this port, as well as implement intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on malformed packets that may indicate exploitation attempts.