CVE-2023-22783 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE, assigned by Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), highlights unauthenticated buffer overflow vulnerabilities in services accessed by the PAPI (Aruba's access point management protocol) UDP port. The vulnerabilities could potentially lead to unauthenticated remote code execution with high impact.

Understanding CVE-2023-22783

This CVE involves buffer overflow vulnerabilities in multiple underlying services that could be exploited by sending specially crafted packets to the PAPI UDP port. Successful exploitation of these vulnerabilities could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code as a privileged user on the affected operating system.

What is CVE-2023-22783?

The CVE-2023-22783 pertains to unauthenticated buffer overflow vulnerabilities in services accessed by the PAPI protocol, specifically affecting Aruba Access Points running InstantOS and ArubaOS 10.

The Impact of CVE-2023-22783

The impact of CVE-2023-22783 is critical, with a CVSSv3.1 base score of 9.8 (Critical). The vulnerabilities have high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts, allowing for unauthenticated remote code execution as a privileged user on the targeted operating system.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-22783

The technical details of CVE-2023-22783 include:

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerabilities involve buffer overflows in services accessible via the PAPI protocol UDP port, potentially leading to unauthenticated remote code execution.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected systems include Aruba Access Points running InstantOS and ArubaOS 10. Versions impacted include InstantOS 8.10.0.2 and below, and ArubaOS 10.3.1.4 and below. For further details, refer to the provided reference document.

Exploitation Mechanism

Successful exploitation of these vulnerabilities requires the attacker to send specially crafted packets to the PAPI UDP port, triggering buffer overflows that can be leveraged for remote code execution.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-22783, consider the following actions:

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches and updates provided by the vendor.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activities targeting the affected services.
Restrict network access to the PAPI protocol to trusted entities only.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential compromises.
Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address vulnerabilities proactively.
Educate system administrators and users on safe computing practices to prevent exploitation attempts.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from the vendor and apply relevant patches promptly. Regularly update software and firmware to ensure a secure environment.