CVE-2025-37146: Network Access Point RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-37146 Overview

CVE-2025-37146 is an authenticated command injection vulnerability [CWE-77] in the web-based management interface of network access point configuration services. An authenticated remote attacker can inject and execute arbitrary operating system commands through the affected interface. Successful exploitation grants command execution on the underlying operating system with the privileges of the management service.

The vulnerability is documented in an HPE security advisory covering network access point configuration components. The CVSS vector CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H reflects network reachability and full compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability, tempered by the requirement for high-privilege authentication.

Critical Impact
An authenticated attacker with access to the management interface can execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system, leading to full device compromise.

Affected Products

HPE network access point configuration services (see HPE Support Document for exact affected versions)
Web-based management interface component of the affected products
Refer to the vendor advisory for the complete list of impacted SKUs and firmware versions

Discovery Timeline

2025-10-14 - CVE-2025-37146 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-37146

Vulnerability Analysis

The flaw resides in the web-based management interface used to configure network access point services. The interface processes user-supplied input and passes it into an operating system command context without sufficient neutralization of shell metacharacters. This behavior maps to [CWE-77], Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command.

An authenticated attacker who can reach the management interface submits crafted input that breaks out of the intended command argument. The injected payload is then executed by the underlying shell or command interpreter. Because the management service typically runs with elevated privileges, execution can occur in a highly privileged context.

The EPSS probability for this issue is approximately 0.81%, indicating limited but non-zero exploitation prediction. No public proof-of-concept or in-the-wild exploitation has been recorded at the time of writing.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of command-line arguments constructed from HTTP request parameters in the management interface. Input reaches an OS command execution routine without being escaped, quoted, or validated against an allowlist.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires network access to the web management interface and valid high-privilege credentials. The attacker submits a specially crafted HTTP request containing shell metacharacters such as backticks, semicolons, pipes, or command substitution syntax. The management service concatenates the input into a shell command and executes it, running attacker-controlled instructions on the host operating system.

The vulnerability is described in prose only; no verified public exploit code is available. Consult the HPE Support Document for vendor-provided technical detail.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-37146

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected child processes spawned by the web management service, such as /bin/sh, bash, or busybox invocations originating from the HTTP daemon
HTTP requests to the management interface containing shell metacharacters (;, |, `, $(, &&) in configuration parameter fields
New or modified accounts, cron entries, or startup scripts on the appliance following administrative sessions
Outbound connections from the access point to unknown hosts shortly after configuration changes

Detection Strategies

Enable verbose audit logging on the management interface and centralize logs for correlation against process-execution telemetry
Alert when the web service parent process spawns interactive shells or utilities such as wget, curl, nc, or tftp
Baseline normal administrator activity and flag configuration submissions containing shell control characters
Compare running firmware and binaries against known-good hashes to detect post-exploitation tampering

Monitoring Recommendations

Restrict management interface reachability to a dedicated administrative VLAN and monitor all sessions
Forward authentication events for privileged accounts to a SIEM and alert on logins from unexpected sources
Monitor for repeated failed authentication attempts followed by successful logins against the management interface
Track configuration change events and correlate them with process-execution telemetry on the underlying OS

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-37146

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the vendor-supplied firmware update referenced in the HPE Support Document as soon as it is available for your platform
Rotate credentials for all high-privilege management accounts on affected devices
Restrict access to the web management interface to trusted management networks and named administrator hosts
Audit recent administrative activity for anomalous configuration submissions or unexpected command output

Patch Information

HPE has published a security bulletin describing affected products and fixed versions. Administrators should consult the HPE Support Document to identify the correct patched firmware release for each device model and apply it during a maintenance window.

Workarounds

Disable the web management interface where the CLI or a centralized controller can be used instead
Enforce network-level access control lists that permit management traffic only from designated jump hosts
Require multi-factor authentication on any identity provider that fronts device administration
Limit the number of accounts holding high-privilege roles and review role assignments regularly

bash

# Example: restrict management interface to a trusted subnet using an upstream ACL
# Replace 10.0.10.0/24 with your administrative network
access-list MGMT_ACL permit tcp 10.0.10.0/24 any eq 443
access-list MGMT_ACL deny   tcp any any eq 443
access-list MGMT_ACL deny   tcp any any eq 80