CVE-2021-29143
📋 TL;DR
This CVE allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands on affected Aruba switches by exploiting improper neutralization of special elements in OS commands (CWE-78). It affects multiple Aruba switch series running vulnerable AOS-CX firmware versions. Attackers could potentially gain full control of affected devices.
💻 Affected Systems
- Aruba CX 6200F Switch Series
- Aruba 6300 Switch Series
- Aruba 6400 Switch Series
- Aruba 8320 Switch Series
- Aruba 8325 Switch Series
- Aruba 8400 Switch Series
- Aruba CX 8360 Switch Series
📦 What is this software?
Aos Cx Firmware by Arubanetworks
Aos Cx Firmware by Arubanetworks
Aos Cx Firmware by Arubanetworks
Aos Cx Firmware by Arubanetworks
Aos Cx Firmware by Arubanetworks
Aos Cx Firmware by Arubanetworks
Aos Cx Firmware by Arubanetworks
Aos Cx Firmware by Arubanetworks
Aos Cx Firmware by Arubanetworks
Aos Cx Firmware by Arubanetworks
Aos Cx Firmware by Arubanetworks
Aos Cx Firmware by Arubanetworks
Aos Cx Firmware by Arubanetworks
Aos Cx Firmware by Arubanetworks
Aos Cx Firmware by Arubanetworks
Aos Cx Firmware by Arubanetworks
Aos Cx Firmware by Arubanetworks
Aos Cx Firmware by Arubanetworks
Aos Cx Firmware by Arubanetworks
Aos Cx Firmware by Arubanetworks
Aos Cx Firmware by Arubanetworks
Aos Cx Firmware by Arubanetworks
Aos Cx Firmware by Arubanetworks
Aos Cx Firmware by Arubanetworks
Aos Cx Firmware by Arubanetworks
Aos Cx Firmware by Arubanetworks
Aos Cx Firmware by Arubanetworks
Aos Cx Firmware by Arubanetworks
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete compromise of network infrastructure, lateral movement to other systems, data exfiltration, and persistent backdoor installation.
Likely Case
Unauthorized configuration changes, network disruption, credential theft, and monitoring of network traffic.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if switches are isolated, have strict access controls, and network segmentation prevents lateral movement.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires network access to the switch management interface. No public exploit code is available, but the vulnerability is serious enough that attackers may develop private exploits.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 10.04.3070, 10.05.0070, 10.06.0110, 10.07.0001 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://www.arubanetworks.com/assets/alert/ARUBA-PSA-2021-013.txt
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Download the appropriate firmware version from Aruba support portal. 2. Backup current configuration. 3. Upload and install the firmware update via CLI or WebUI. 4. Reboot the switch. 5. Verify the new firmware version is running.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict Management Access
allLimit access to switch management interfaces to trusted IP addresses only using ACLs.
configure terminal
ip access-list standard MGMT-ACL
permit host 192.168.1.100
deny any
exit
interface vlan 1
ip access-group MGMT-ACL in
end
Disable Unused Management Protocols
allTurn off HTTP/HTTPS, Telnet, or other management protocols not required for operations.
configure terminal
no web-management
no telnet-server
end
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Isolate affected switches in a dedicated VLAN with strict firewall rules.
- Implement network segmentation to limit potential lateral movement from compromised switches.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check current firmware version using 'show version' command and compare against affected versions.Check Version:
show versionVerify Fix Applied:
After patching, run 'show version' to confirm firmware version is 10.04.3070, 10.05.0070, 10.06.0110, 10.07.0001 or higher.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unexpected command execution logs
- Unauthorized configuration changes
- Failed authentication attempts followed by successful access
Network Indicators:
- Unusual outbound connections from switches
- Anomalous traffic patterns from management interfaces
SIEM Query:
source="aruba-switch" AND (event_type="command_execution" OR config_change="true") AND user NOT IN ["admin", "operator"]