CVE-2024-25615: Arubanetworks ArubaOS DoS Vulnerability

CVE-2024-25615 Overview

CVE-2024-25615 is an unauthenticated Denial-of-Service (DoS) vulnerability in the Spectrum service of ArubaOS 8.x. The Spectrum service is reachable through the Process Application Programming Interface (PAPI) protocol used by Aruba wireless infrastructure. A remote attacker on the network can send crafted PAPI traffic to disrupt normal operation of the affected service. The flaw is classified under [CWE-400] Uncontrolled Resource Consumption. No authentication or user interaction is required to trigger the condition.

Critical Impact
Remote, unauthenticated attackers can interrupt the Spectrum service on ArubaOS 8.x controllers, degrading wireless management and RF analysis capabilities.

Affected Products

HPE Aruba Networking ArubaOS 8.x (Spectrum service reachable via PAPI)
Mobility Controllers running vulnerable ArubaOS 8.x branches
Mobility Conductor deployments running vulnerable ArubaOS 8.x branches

Discovery Timeline

2024-03-05 - CVE-2024-25615 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-25615

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in the Spectrum service exposed on ArubaOS 8.x through the PAPI protocol. PAPI is Aruba's proprietary inter-process control protocol used across mobility controllers, access points, and Mobility Conductor. An attacker who can reach PAPI on the network is able to submit input that the Spectrum service fails to handle safely. Processing this input consumes resources or halts the service, producing an availability impact without touching confidentiality or integrity. The condition maps to [CWE-400] Uncontrolled Resource Consumption, where the affected process does not properly bound resource use during request handling.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper resource management inside the Spectrum service when parsing PAPI messages. Malformed or unexpected PAPI input triggers a state that interrupts normal operation. Because the service accepts input prior to authentication, the exposure extends to any attacker with network reachability to PAPI.

Attack Vector

Exploitation is network-based, requires no privileges, and needs no user interaction. An attacker sends crafted PAPI packets to a reachable ArubaOS 8.x device. Successful exploitation disrupts the Spectrum service, degrading RF analysis and related wireless functions provided by the affected controller.

No public proof-of-concept or exploit code is associated with this CVE. See the Aruba Networks Security Alert for vendor technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-25615

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected restarts, hangs, or crash logs from the Spectrum process on ArubaOS 8.x controllers.
Sudden loss of RF spectrum analysis data or Spectrum dashboard availability.
Inbound PAPI traffic (UDP/8211) from untrusted or unexpected source addresses.

Detection Strategies

Alert on repeated Spectrum service restarts or watchdog events in ArubaOS syslog output.
Correlate PAPI traffic spikes with service degradation events on wireless controllers.
Baseline legitimate PAPI peers (APs, controllers, Mobility Conductor) and flag deviations.

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward ArubaOS controller logs to a centralized SIEM for continuous availability monitoring.
Monitor SNMP or streaming telemetry for Spectrum process health and CPU consumption anomalies.
Track network flow data for unauthorized sources sending PAPI-formatted traffic to controllers.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-25615

Immediate Actions Required

Identify all ArubaOS 8.x controllers and Mobility Conductor instances in the environment.
Restrict PAPI protocol reachability to trusted management and infrastructure networks only.
Apply the fixed ArubaOS versions listed in the Aruba Networks Security Alert ARUBA-PSA-2024-002.

Patch Information

HPE Aruba Networking published remediation guidance in ARUBA-PSA-2024-002. Administrators should upgrade ArubaOS 8.x to the fixed builds identified in that advisory. End-of-maintenance branches should be migrated to a supported, patched release.

Workarounds

Enable the Enhanced PAPI Security feature described by HPE Aruba Networking to authenticate PAPI messages with a non-default key.
Block untrusted sources from reaching PAPI (UDP/8211) using upstream firewalls or controller ACLs.
Segment wireless management interfaces away from user, guest, and internet-exposed networks.

bash

# Configuration example: restrict PAPI exposure with an ACL on ArubaOS
# (Adjust addresses to your trusted management subnets)
ip access-list session restrict-papi
  user host <trusted-mgmt-host> svc-papi permit
  any any svc-papi deny
!
interface vlan <mgmt-vlan>
  ip access-group in restrict-papi