CVE-2022-23694 is a high-severity authenticated SQL injection vulnerability affecting Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager versions 6.10.x (6.10.6 and below) and 6.9.x (6.9.11 and below). The vulnerability exists in the web-based management interface of ClearPass Policy Manager, which is a network access control and policy management solution widely used to enforce security policies across enterprise networks. An authenticated remote attacker with valid credentials can exploit this SQL injection flaw to manipulate backend database queries. This could allow the attacker to retrieve, modify, or delete sensitive information stored in the ClearPass database. The impact of such unauthorized database access includes potential exposure of user credentials, network policies, and other critical configuration data. Moreover, successful exploitation could lead to a complete compromise of the ClearPass Policy Manager cluster, undermining the integrity and availability of network access control mechanisms. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command), indicating that user input is not properly sanitized before being incorporated into SQL statements. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 reflects the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, combined with the ease of exploitation given low attack complexity and no user interaction required beyond authentication. Aruba has released patches addressing this vulnerability, but no known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the published date.

For European organizations, the exploitation of CVE-2022-23694 poses significant risks. ClearPass Policy Manager is often deployed in enterprises, government agencies, and critical infrastructure sectors to enforce network access policies and manage device authentication. A successful attack could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive network configurations, user credentials, and policy data, potentially allowing lateral movement within the network or disruption of network access controls. This could result in data breaches, service outages, and compromise of regulatory compliance, especially under GDPR and other data protection laws prevalent in Europe. The ability to modify database contents could also allow attackers to create persistent backdoors or disable security controls, increasing the risk of prolonged undetected intrusions. Given the critical role of ClearPass in network security, the impact extends beyond the affected system to the broader enterprise network and connected systems.

European organizations using Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager should immediately verify their software versions and upgrade to the latest patched releases provided by Aruba. Specific mitigation steps include: 1) Applying vendor-supplied patches for versions 6.10.x and 6.9.x to eliminate the SQL injection vulnerability. 2) Restricting administrative access to the ClearPass management interface through network segmentation, VPNs, or IP whitelisting to reduce exposure to authenticated attackers. 3) Enforcing strong authentication mechanisms, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), to limit the risk of credential compromise. 4) Conducting regular audits of ClearPass logs and database integrity to detect anomalous activities indicative of exploitation attempts. 5) Implementing strict input validation and parameterized queries if custom integrations or scripts interact with ClearPass databases. 6) Training administrators on secure credential management and monitoring for suspicious login patterns. These measures collectively reduce the attack surface and improve detection and response capabilities.