Overview
A critical command injection vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-37163, has been discovered in the command line interface (CLI) of the HPE Aruba Networking Airwave Platform. This flaw allows an authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary operating system commands with elevated privileges on the underlying operating system. Given the severity of the potential impact, immediate action is recommended to mitigate this vulnerability.
Technical Details
CVE-2025-37163 stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input within the Aruba Airwave Platform’s CLI. An attacker who has already authenticated to the Airwave platform can craft malicious commands that, when processed by the system, result in the execution of arbitrary OS commands. Because these commands are executed with elevated privileges, the attacker gains significant control over the affected system.
Specific details regarding the vulnerable CLI commands and the exact injection points are outlined in the HPE advisory (see References below). Attackers could potentially leverage this flaw to:
- Gain complete control of the Aruba Airwave server.
- Compromise connected network devices managed by Airwave.
- Exfiltrate sensitive data, including network configurations and credentials.
- Disrupt network operations by modifying or deleting critical system files.
CVSS Analysis
The Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) assigns CVE-2025-37163 a score of 7.2, classifying it as HIGH severity. This score reflects the vulnerability’s potential for significant impact and the relative ease with which it can be exploited, assuming the attacker has valid credentials for the Aruba Airwave platform.
Possible Impact
The exploitation of CVE-2025-37163 could have severe consequences for organizations using the HPE Aruba Airwave Platform. A successful attack could lead to:
- Data Breach: Sensitive network configurations, user credentials, and other confidential information could be exposed.
- System Compromise: Attackers could gain complete control of the Airwave server, potentially disrupting network management operations.
- Lateral Movement: The compromised Airwave server could be used as a launchpad for further attacks on other network devices and systems.
- Denial of Service: Attackers could disrupt network services by modifying or deleting critical system files.
Mitigation or Patch Steps
HPE has released a patch to address this vulnerability. It is strongly recommended to upgrade your Aruba Airwave Platform to the latest version as soon as possible.
- Identify Affected Systems: Determine which Aruba Airwave Platform instances are running in your environment.
- Download the Patch: Obtain the appropriate patch from the HPE support portal (see References below).
- Apply the Patch: Follow HPE’s instructions to install the patch on all affected systems.
- Verify the Patch: After applying the patch, verify that the vulnerability has been successfully mitigated.
- Monitor for Suspicious Activity: Continuously monitor your network and systems for any signs of compromise or suspicious activity.
