CVE-2025-23060 Overview
A vulnerability in HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass Policy Manager may, under certain circumstances, expose sensitive unencrypted information. This cleartext transmission vulnerability (CWE-319) enables attackers to intercept communications and potentially perform man-in-the-middle attacks, which could grant unauthorized access to network resources and enable data tampering.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation allows attackers to intercept sensitive unencrypted data, perform man-in-the-middle attacks, gain unauthorized network access, and tamper with data in transit.
Affected Products
- HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass Policy Manager (all vulnerable versions)
Discovery Timeline
- February 4, 2025 - CVE-2025-23060 published to NVD
- March 28, 2025 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-23060
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability stems from improper handling of sensitive information transmission within HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass Policy Manager. Under certain circumstances, the application transmits sensitive data over an unencrypted channel, exposing it to potential interception by malicious actors positioned on the network path.
The cleartext transmission weakness (CWE-319) represents a fundamental cryptographic protection failure. When sensitive information traverses the network without encryption, any attacker capable of monitoring network traffic—whether through ARP spoofing, DNS hijacking, rogue access points, or other network interception techniques—can capture and read the exposed data.
The impact extends beyond mere information disclosure. Attackers who successfully intercept credentials or session tokens can leverage this access to authenticate to network resources, effectively bypassing security controls. Additionally, the man-in-the-middle position enables active tampering with data, allowing attackers to modify communications, inject malicious content, or manipulate policy configurations.
Root Cause
The root cause of CVE-2025-23060 lies in the transmission of sensitive information without proper cryptographic protection. ClearPass Policy Manager, under specific operational conditions, fails to enforce encryption for data that should be protected in transit. This cleartext transmission (CWE-319) violates fundamental secure communication principles and exposes the data to network-based interception.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based, requiring the attacker to be positioned within the network path between the ClearPass Policy Manager and communicating endpoints. This can be achieved through various techniques:
The attacker first establishes a man-in-the-middle position using techniques such as ARP spoofing, DNS poisoning, or by compromising network infrastructure. Once positioned, they passively monitor traffic for unencrypted sensitive data transmissions from the vulnerable ClearPass Policy Manager instance. Captured credentials or session information can then be used to gain unauthorized access to network resources or perform further attacks.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-23060
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual cleartext network traffic patterns originating from or destined to ClearPass Policy Manager systems
- Network traffic analysis revealing unencrypted authentication or session data
- Unexpected authentication events from unusual source addresses using valid credentials
- Signs of ARP spoofing or DNS hijacking targeting ClearPass infrastructure
Detection Strategies
- Deploy network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) to monitor for cleartext transmission of sensitive data to/from ClearPass Policy Manager
- Implement deep packet inspection to identify authentication credentials or session tokens transmitted without encryption
- Monitor for signs of man-in-the-middle attacks such as ARP anomalies or certificate mismatches in the network segments hosting ClearPass
- Review authentication logs for successful logins from unexpected geographic locations or IP addresses
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable comprehensive logging on ClearPass Policy Manager and forward logs to a centralized SIEM for analysis
- Configure network monitoring tools to alert on unencrypted sensitive data patterns
- Implement network segmentation monitoring to detect lateral movement attempts following credential theft
- Establish baseline network behavior for ClearPass systems and alert on deviations
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-23060
Immediate Actions Required
- Review the HPE Security Advisory for affected version information and apply available patches immediately
- Audit network configurations to ensure ClearPass Policy Manager communications traverse secure, encrypted channels
- Implement network segmentation to limit exposure of ClearPass management traffic
- Enable additional authentication controls such as multi-factor authentication where supported
Patch Information
HPE has released a security advisory addressing this vulnerability. Administrators should consult the official HPE Security Advisory to identify the specific patch versions for their ClearPass Policy Manager deployment and follow HPE's recommended upgrade path.
Workarounds
- Isolate ClearPass Policy Manager on dedicated, secured network segments with strict access controls
- Implement network-level encryption (such as IPsec) for all traffic to and from ClearPass systems as a compensating control
- Deploy network monitoring to detect and block man-in-the-middle attack attempts
- Restrict administrative access to ClearPass Policy Manager to trusted jump hosts over encrypted connections
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
