CVE-2025-37142 in ArubaOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/14/2025
Arbitrary file download vulnerabilities exist in the CLI binary of AOS-10 GW and AOS-8 Controller/Mobility Conductor operating systems. Successful exploitation could allow an authenticated malicious actor to download arbitrary files through carefully constructed exploits.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/14/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-37142 represents a critical arbitrary file download flaw within the command line interface binaries of AOS-10 Gateway and AOS-8 Controller/Mobility Conductor operating systems. This security weakness stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the CLI implementation, allowing authenticated attackers to manipulate file download requests through crafted payloads. The vulnerability manifests when legitimate users with valid credentials attempt to access file transfer functionalities, creating an attack surface that could be exploited by malicious actors with compromised credentials or those who have gained unauthorized access to legitimate accounts. The flaw specifically impacts the operating system's ability to properly validate file paths and access permissions during download operations, potentially enabling attackers to traverse directory structures and access sensitive system files. This issue falls under the category of CWE-22 - Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, which is classified as a path traversal vulnerability. The attack vector requires authentication, meaning that an attacker must first obtain valid credentials or exploit another vulnerability to gain access to the system before leveraging this arbitrary file download capability.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-37142 extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, as it could enable attackers to extract critical system information, configuration files, and potentially sensitive data stored within the affected systems. This vulnerability could facilitate further attacks by allowing adversaries to gather intelligence about the system architecture, network topology, and installed software versions. The ability to download arbitrary files provides attackers with opportunities to escalate privileges, deploy malicious payloads, or establish persistent access within the network infrastructure. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 - Valid Accounts, as it leverages legitimate authentication mechanisms to gain access to restricted resources. The flaw could also support techniques such as T1566 - Phishing with Malicious Attachments, where attackers might use the compromised system to download and distribute malicious files to other network targets. Organizations running these operating systems face significant risk of data exfiltration, system compromise, and potential network-wide infiltration through this vulnerability, particularly in environments where these devices serve as core network infrastructure components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-37142 should focus on immediate patching of affected systems, implementing robust access controls, and enhancing monitoring of file download activities within the CLI environment. Organizations should prioritize applying vendor-provided security updates as soon as they become available, while simultaneously reviewing and strengthening authentication mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access to CLI interfaces. Network segmentation and least privilege access principles should be enforced to limit the scope of potential damage from exploitation attempts. Security teams should implement comprehensive logging and monitoring of CLI activities, particularly around file transfer operations, to detect suspicious download patterns. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of principle of least privilege implementation, where CLI access should be restricted to authorized personnel only, and multi-factor authentication should be required for administrative access. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other system components, as this vulnerability demonstrates the need for rigorous input validation and access control mechanisms in all system interfaces. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for anomalous file transfer activities that could indicate exploitation attempts, while maintaining detailed audit trails of all CLI operations for forensic analysis purposes.