CVE-2022-23695 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). ClearPass Policy Manager is a network access control and policy management solution widely used in enterprise environments to enforce security policies and manage network access. The vulnerability exists in the web-based management interface, allowing an attacker with valid authentication credentials to inject malicious SQL commands into the backend database. Exploitation of this vulnerability enables the attacker to read, modify, or delete sensitive information stored in the ClearPass database, potentially leading to a complete compromise of the ClearPass cluster. This could include unauthorized access to network policies, user credentials, and other critical configuration data. The CVSS 3.1 score of 8.8 reflects the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with low attack complexity and no user interaction required beyond authentication. Aruba has released patches to address this vulnerability, but unpatched systems remain at risk. No known exploits in the wild have been reported to date, but the nature of the vulnerability and the critical role of ClearPass in network security make it a significant threat if exploited.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be severe. ClearPass Policy Manager is often deployed in large enterprises, government agencies, and critical infrastructure sectors to enforce network access policies and ensure secure authentication. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to manipulate network access controls, potentially granting unauthorized access to sensitive internal networks or disrupting legitimate user access. This could lead to data breaches, lateral movement within networks, and disruption of business operations. Given the reliance on ClearPass for network security enforcement, compromise could undermine the overall security posture of affected organizations, increasing the risk of further attacks. Additionally, regulatory requirements such as GDPR impose strict obligations on protecting personal data, and a breach resulting from this vulnerability could lead to significant legal and financial consequences for European entities.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should prioritize the following actions: 1) Immediately identify and inventory all Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager instances, noting versions to determine exposure. 2) Apply the official Aruba patches or upgrade to fixed versions above 6.10.6 or 6.9.11 as soon as possible to eliminate the vulnerability. 3) Restrict administrative access to the ClearPass management interface to trusted networks and users, employing network segmentation and strong access controls. 4) Enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all ClearPass administrators to reduce the risk of credential compromise. 5) Monitor ClearPass logs and network traffic for unusual activities that may indicate attempted exploitation or unauthorized access. 6) Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on ClearPass deployments to identify any residual risks. 7) Ensure backups of ClearPass configurations and databases are maintained securely to enable recovery in case of compromise. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on specific controls tailored to the ClearPass environment and the nature of the vulnerability.