CVE-2025-23060 in Aruba Networking ClearPass Policy Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 02/04/2025
A vulnerability in HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass Policy Manager may, under certain circumstances, expose sensitive unencrypted information. Exploiting this vulnerability could allow an attacker to perform a man-in-the-middle attack, potentially granting unauthorized access to network resources as well as enabling data tampering.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-23060 affects HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass Policy Manager, a critical component in network access control and policy enforcement systems. This security flaw represents a significant concern for organizations relying on the platform for managing network authentication and authorization processes. The vulnerability manifests as an exposure of sensitive unencrypted information, which fundamentally undermines the security posture of the affected system and creates multiple attack vectors for malicious actors.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of sensitive data within the ClearPass Policy Manager environment. When certain conditions are met, the system fails to adequately encrypt or protect confidential information during transmission or storage phases. This weakness creates an opportunity for attackers to intercept and access sensitive data that should remain protected. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of network access controls, potentially allowing unauthorized users to gain access to protected network resources. The flaw operates at the network communication level, where information flows between various components of the policy manager system and external entities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, creating substantial risks for network security and integrity. An attacker exploiting this weakness could execute man-in-the-middle attacks that intercept and manipulate communication between network devices and the ClearPass Policy Manager. This capability enables unauthorized access to network resources, potentially allowing attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and gain administrative privileges. The vulnerability also facilitates data tampering operations, where attackers can modify network policies or access control rules in real-time, leading to potential service disruptions or unauthorized network access. Organizations may experience compromised network security, unauthorized data access, and potential regulatory compliance violations due to the exposure of sensitive information.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, including updating to the latest firmware versions provided by HPE Aruba Networking, implementing additional network segmentation measures, and strengthening monitoring protocols for suspicious network activity. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and CWE-319 (Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information) categories, which specifically address the insecure handling of sensitive data in storage and transmission contexts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as T1046 (Network Service Scanning) and T1566 (Phishing) as attackers may use the exposed information to conduct further reconnaissance and social engineering attacks. Security teams should also consider implementing network traffic monitoring solutions that can detect unusual patterns consistent with man-in-the-middle attacks and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing information exposure vulnerabilities in network access control systems.