CVE-2024-42507 in Aruba OS
Summary
by MITRE • 09/25/2024
Command injection vulnerabilities in the underlying CLI service 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 these vulnerabilities results in the ability to execute arbitrary code as a privileged user on the underlying operating system.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-42507 represents a critical command injection flaw within Aruba's Access Point management protocol service that operates over UDP port 8211. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the PAPI protocol implementation, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary commands through specially crafted network packets. The vulnerability exists at the command line interface level where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into system commands without proper escaping or filtering mechanisms, making it susceptible to exploitation by attackers who can craft malicious payloads to be processed by the underlying operating system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the PAPI protocol's UDP communication channel on port 8211, which is used for managing Aruba access points and their associated network infrastructure. Attackers can send malicious packets containing command injection payloads that bypass authentication mechanisms, allowing unauthenticated remote code execution on the target system. This represents a severe architectural flaw where the system fails to properly validate or sanitize inputs received through the network interface, directly leading to privilege escalation and full system compromise. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories, specifically addressing command injection and code injection weaknesses that enable arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-42507 extends far beyond simple network disruption, as successful exploitation provides attackers with elevated privileges and complete control over the affected system. This allows for persistent access, data exfiltration, lateral movement within the network, and potential compromise of the entire wireless infrastructure managed by the vulnerable device. The unauthenticated nature of the attack means that any network entity capable of reaching the UDP port 8211 can exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in environments where wireless access points are exposed to untrusted networks or where default configurations are not properly secured. The attack vector follows patterns consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically targeting remote execution capabilities through network services.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to restrict access to UDP port 8211, deployment of network access control lists to block unauthorized traffic, and application of vendor-provided patches once available. The remediation strategy should also include monitoring for suspicious network activity on the affected port, implementing intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts, and conducting comprehensive security assessments of wireless network infrastructure. Security teams must also consider the broader implications of this vulnerability within their attack surface, as it could enable attackers to establish persistent backdoors, escalate privileges, and potentially compromise other systems within the network that rely on the same infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and the potential consequences of insufficient security controls in network management protocols, particularly those handling privileged operations without adequate authentication mechanisms.