CVE-2025-23058 in Aruba Networking ClearPass Policy Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 02/04/2025
A vulnerability in the ClearPass Policy Manager web-based management interface allows a low-privileged (read-only) authenticated remote attacker to gain unauthorized access to data and the ability to execute functions that should be restricted to administrators only with read/write privileges. Successful exploitation could enable a low-privileged user to execute administrative functions leading to an escalation of privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-23058 represents a critical authorization flaw within the ClearPass Policy Manager web-based management interface that fundamentally undermines the system's security model. This issue affects the authentication and access control mechanisms that are designed to maintain strict segregation between different user roles within the network access control platform. The ClearPass Policy Manager serves as a central component in enterprise network security infrastructure, managing authentication policies, user access controls, and network authorization decisions. When a low-privileged user gains the ability to execute administrative functions, it creates a severe compromise in the system's integrity and confidentiality controls.
The technical flaw manifests as an insufficient authorization check within the web interface components that handle administrative operations. This weakness allows an attacker who has obtained read-only credentials to bypass normal access controls and execute functions that should be restricted to users with full administrative privileges. The vulnerability likely stems from improper validation of user permissions before executing sensitive operations, potentially involving missing input sanitization, inadequate session management, or flawed role-based access control implementations. The flaw operates at the application layer and specifically targets the web management interface, making it accessible remotely without requiring physical access or additional attack vectors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with comprehensive access to sensitive network management functions. A successful exploitation could enable unauthorized users to modify authentication policies, create new user accounts, alter access control rules, and potentially gain access to the underlying network infrastructure. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege that is fundamental to secure system design and could lead to complete compromise of the network access control environment. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on ClearPass Policy Manager for critical network security functions, potentially exposing their entire network infrastructure to unauthorized access and manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-23058 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from the vendor, as this vulnerability directly compromises the security model of the affected system. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to the ClearPass Policy Manager interface, enforce multi-factor authentication for all administrative functions, and conduct thorough audit of existing user accounts and their permissions. Security teams must also establish monitoring for unusual administrative activities and implement network-based detection mechanisms to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285 which addresses insufficient authorization issues, and represents a clear violation of the ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege enforcement, regular security assessments of web applications, and enhanced logging and monitoring of administrative activities to prevent exploitation of similar authorization flaws.