CVE-2025-37157: HPE ArubaOS-CX RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-37157 Overview

CVE-2025-37157 is a command injection vulnerability in the HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX operating system. The flaw allows an authenticated remote attacker to execute arbitrary operating system commands on affected switches. Successful exploitation leads to Remote Code Execution (RCE) within the context of the underlying network operating system.

The vulnerability is tracked under CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command) and CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code). AOS-CX powers HPE Aruba CX series switches deployed in enterprise campus, data center, and branch environments.

Critical Impact

An authenticated attacker with low privileges can achieve Remote Code Execution on AOS-CX network infrastructure, compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected switches.

Affected Products

• HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX (multiple versions)
• HPE Aruba CX series switches running vulnerable AOS-CX firmware
• All AOS-CX deployments where management interfaces are reachable by authenticated users

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-11-18 - CVE-2025-37157 published to NVD
• 2025-12-04 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-37157

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of user-supplied input passed to an operating system command interpreter within AOS-CX. An authenticated user with low privileges can inject shell metacharacters into a vulnerable command handler. The injected payload executes alongside the intended command in the underlying OS context.

The attack is exploitable over the network without user interaction. The combination of low attack complexity and authenticated access produces a high-impact RCE outcome across confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper input sanitization in a command-handling path exposed to authenticated users. Input intended as command arguments is concatenated into a shell invocation without escaping shell metacharacters such as ;, |, &, backticks, or $(). This pattern aligns with both CWE-78 and CWE-94, as attacker-controlled data influences both the command structure and code execution.

Attack Vector

An attacker authenticates to an AOS-CX management interface using valid low-privilege credentials. The attacker submits a crafted request containing shell metacharacters in a parameter consumed by a vulnerable command handler. The AOS-CX command path executes the injected commands in the operating system context.

Because the attack vector is network-based and complexity is low, exploitation does not require advanced bypass techniques once credentials are obtained. Refer to the HPE Security Bulletin for vendor-specific technical details. No public proof-of-concept exploit is currently available.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-37157

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected shell metacharacters such as ;, |, &&, backticks, or $() in AOS-CX command audit logs or CLI session history.
• Authentication events from unusual source addresses immediately followed by configuration or operational commands accepting string parameters.
• New or modified scheduled tasks, user accounts, or SSH keys on AOS-CX devices that were not introduced through change management.

Detection Strategies

• Forward AOS-CX accounting, authentication, and command audit logs to a central log management or SIEM platform and alert on anomalous command syntax.
• Inspect REST API request bodies and CLI parameters for special characters in fields that should contain alphanumeric values only.
• Correlate low-privilege user activity with privileged-level system effects such as new processes or outbound connections from switches.

Monitoring Recommendations

• Monitor outbound network traffic from management VRFs for connections to unknown external hosts, which may indicate post-exploitation callbacks.
• Track configuration changes via TACACS+/RADIUS accounting and alert on activity from accounts that do not normally modify the device.
• Baseline normal administrative command usage and flag deviations involving string-input commands accessible to low-privilege roles.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-37157

Immediate Actions Required

• Apply the fixed AOS-CX firmware versions published in the HPE Security Bulletin to all affected switches.
• Restrict management plane access to dedicated out-of-band networks and trusted administrative jump hosts.
• Rotate credentials for all AOS-CX local and centralized accounts, especially low-privilege operator accounts.
• Audit existing user accounts and remove unused or stale credentials that could be leveraged by attackers.

Patch Information

HPE has released updated AOS-CX firmware addressing CVE-2025-37157. Administrators must consult the HPE Security Bulletin to identify the fixed version that corresponds to their deployed AOS-CX branch and switch model. Apply the patches following HPE's recommended upgrade procedure.

Workarounds

• Enforce role-based access control (RBAC) to limit which users can execute commands containing string parameters.
• Restrict access to SSH, HTTPS, and REST API management interfaces using control-plane ACLs to known administrative source addresses.
• Require multi-factor authentication via TACACS+ or RADIUS integration for all administrative logins to AOS-CX devices.
• Disable unused management protocols and services on AOS-CX switches to reduce the exposed attack surface.

# Example AOS-CX hardening: restrict management access via control-plane ACL
switch(config)# access-list ip mgmt-acl
switch(config-acl-ip)# 10 permit tcp 10.0.0.0/24 any eq ssh
switch(config-acl-ip)# 20 permit tcp 10.0.0.0/24 any eq https
switch(config-acl-ip)# 30 deny  any any any
switch(config)# control-plane
switch(config-cp)# apply access-list ip mgmt-acl