CVE-2025-37160 Overview
CVE-2025-37160 is a broken access control [CWE-200] vulnerability in the web-based management interface of HPE ArubaOS-CX. An authenticated remote attacker with low privileges can exploit this flaw to view sensitive information that should be restricted to higher-privileged roles. Successful exploitation results in disclosure of sensitive configuration or operational data from the affected switch.
The vulnerability affects network switching infrastructure running ArubaOS-CX, which is deployed across enterprise campus, data center, and branch environments. HPE has published a security bulletin addressing this issue.
Critical Impact
Authenticated low-privilege users can bypass access controls in the ArubaOS-CX web management interface and retrieve sensitive information from the switch.
Affected Products
- HPE ArubaOS-CX (multiple versions — see vendor advisory)
- ArubaOS-CX switches with the web-based management interface enabled
- Deployments accepting authenticated management sessions from network-reachable clients
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-11-18 - CVE-2025-37160 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-37160
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is a broken access control (BAC) flaw in the ArubaOS-CX web-based management interface. The interface fails to properly enforce authorization checks on certain endpoints or resources. An attacker who holds a valid low-privilege account can access data reserved for administrators or other elevated roles.
The scope of the flaw is confined to confidentiality. Integrity and availability of the switch are not directly impacted. The attacker must be authenticated, which limits exposure to users who already possess valid credentials or who compromise low-privilege accounts through other means.
Because ArubaOS-CX switches often carry configuration data, credentials, routing state, and topology information, information disclosure from the management plane can facilitate follow-on attacks against the broader network.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing or insufficient authorization enforcement on management interface resources. The application authenticates the caller but does not verify that the caller's role permits access to the requested resource. This pattern matches [CWE-200] Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor.
Attack Vector
Exploitation occurs over the network against the switch's web management interface. The attacker must first authenticate with low-privilege credentials. The attacker then issues requests to endpoints that return sensitive data without verifying the caller's authorization level. No user interaction is required, and attack complexity is low. The vendor advisory should be consulted for the specific endpoints and data exposed.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-37160
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected access to management interface endpoints from low-privilege user accounts in ArubaOS-CX audit logs
- Access patterns where non-administrator accounts retrieve configuration, credential, or diagnostic data
- Repeated web-management requests from a single authenticated session enumerating resources
Detection Strategies
- Review ArubaOS-CX web management access logs for authenticated sessions retrieving resources outside their role scope
- Correlate authentication events with subsequent API or UI resource access to identify horizontal or vertical access anomalies
- Alert on any low-privilege account performing bulk reads of switch configuration or state data
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward ArubaOS-CX syslog and REST API audit logs to a centralized SIEM for role-based access analysis
- Baseline normal read patterns for each management role and alert on deviations
- Monitor for creation or use of low-privilege management accounts that were not provisioned through standard change control
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-37160
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the fixed ArubaOS-CX firmware version identified in the HPE Security Bulletin
- Restrict access to the web-based management interface to trusted management networks and jump hosts
- Audit existing ArubaOS-CX user accounts and remove any unused low-privilege accounts
- Rotate credentials that may have been exposed through the management interface
Patch Information
HPE has released updated ArubaOS-CX firmware addressing CVE-2025-37160. Refer to the HPE Security Bulletin for the list of fixed versions per switch platform and upgrade guidance. Apply the update through standard change control and validate switch operation after upgrade.
Workarounds
- Disable the web-based management interface where CLI or NETCONF management is sufficient
- Enforce access control lists (ACLs) restricting management-plane connectivity to authorized administrator subnets
- Enforce least privilege on ArubaOS-CX role assignments and remove read access to sensitive resources for non-administrator roles
- Require multi-factor authentication or bastion-host access for all switch management sessions
# Example: restrict ArubaOS-CX management interface to an administrator subnet
# Consult HPE documentation for the exact syntax on your platform and version
switch(config)# access-list ip MGMT_ACL
switch(config-acl-ip)# 10 permit tcp 10.10.0.0/24 any eq 443
switch(config-acl-ip)# 20 deny tcp any any eq 443
switch(config-acl-ip)# exit
switch(config)# interface mgmt
switch(config-if-mgmt)# ip access-group MGMT_ACL in
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
