CVE-2025-37165: HPE Instant On Access Points Info Leak

CVE-2025-37165 Overview

A vulnerability exists in the router mode configuration of HPE Instant On Access Points that exposes certain network configuration details to unintended interfaces. This information disclosure flaw allows a malicious actor to gain knowledge of internal network configuration details through inspecting impacted packets, potentially enabling reconnaissance for further attacks against the network infrastructure.

Critical Impact

Network configuration details exposed to unintended interfaces could allow attackers to map internal network topology, identify critical assets, and plan targeted attacks against the infrastructure.

Affected Products

• HPE Instant On Access Points (Router Mode Configuration)

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-01-13 - CVE CVE-2025-37165 published to NVD
• 2026-04-15 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-37165

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability falls under CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor). When HPE Instant On Access Points are configured in router mode, the device improperly handles network configuration data, causing sensitive details to be exposed through unintended network interfaces. The flaw requires no authentication or user interaction to exploit, making it accessible to any attacker with network access to the affected device.

The information disclosure occurs at the network layer, allowing remote attackers to passively capture and analyze packets to extract internal network configuration details. This could reveal subnet configurations, VLAN structures, routing information, or other sensitive network topology data that would typically be restricted to administrative interfaces.

Root Cause

The root cause stems from improper interface isolation in the router mode configuration of HPE Instant On Access Points. When the device operates in router mode, network configuration packets that should be confined to management or internal interfaces are instead transmitted or leaked to external-facing network interfaces, violating the principle of least privilege for sensitive configuration data.

Attack Vector

The vulnerability is exploitable over the network without requiring authentication or user interaction. An attacker positioned on the same network segment or with the ability to capture network traffic can intercept packets containing the exposed configuration details. The attack is passive in nature, meaning the attacker only needs to monitor network traffic rather than actively sending malicious requests.

The exploitation scenario involves:

1. Attacker gains network proximity to an affected HPE Instant On Access Point in router mode
2. Attacker captures network traffic using packet sniffing tools
3. Attacker analyzes captured packets to extract exposed network configuration details
4. Extracted information enables further reconnaissance or targeted attacks

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-37165

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual packet captures or network monitoring activities targeting management VLANs
• Evidence of reconnaissance tools scanning for HPE Instant On Access Points
• Unexpected network traffic analysis queries in security logs

Detection Strategies

• Monitor for abnormal traffic patterns on interfaces where configuration data should not be transmitted
• Implement network intrusion detection rules to identify HPE Instant On Access Point configuration packet leakage
• Review access point logs for configuration exposure indicators
• Deploy packet capture analysis on critical network segments to identify information leakage

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable comprehensive logging on all HPE Instant On Access Points operating in router mode
• Implement network traffic analysis solutions to baseline normal behavior and detect anomalies
• Configure alerts for any configuration-related data traversing unexpected network interfaces
• Regularly audit network segmentation to ensure proper interface isolation

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-37165

Immediate Actions Required

• Review all HPE Instant On Access Points for router mode configurations and assess exposure
• Implement network segmentation to limit attacker access to affected devices
• Consider temporarily switching affected access points to bridge mode if router functionality is not critical
• Apply firmware updates from HPE as soon as available

Patch Information

HPE has released a security advisory addressing this vulnerability. Administrators should consult the HPE Security Advisory for detailed patch information and firmware update instructions. It is recommended to apply the latest firmware version that addresses CVE-2025-37165 to all affected HPE Instant On Access Points.

Workarounds

• Restrict network access to HPE Instant On Access Points using firewall rules and access control lists
• Implement 802.1X network access control to limit which devices can connect to network segments containing affected access points
• Deploy network monitoring to detect and alert on any exploitation attempts
• Consider using VPN or encrypted tunnels for management traffic to reduce exposure of configuration details

# Example firewall rule to restrict access to management interface
# Adjust interface names and IP ranges according to your environment
iptables -A INPUT -i eth0 -p udp --dport 161 -s 192.168.1.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -i eth0 -p udp --dport 161 -j DROP
# Limit management access to trusted administrative subnet only