CVE-2022-37914 is a critical remote authentication bypass vulnerability affecting multiple versions of Aruba EdgeConnect Enterprise Orchestrator, including on-premises deployments, as-a-service variants, service provider editions, and global enterprise tenant orchestrators. The vulnerability resides in the web-based management interface of the Orchestrator, which is responsible for centralized control and configuration of Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN appliances. Due to improper authentication enforcement, an unauthenticated remote attacker can bypass the login mechanism entirely, gaining administrative privileges without valid credentials. This level of access enables the attacker to fully compromise the Orchestrator, potentially allowing manipulation of network configurations, deployment of malicious policies, interception or redirection of network traffic, and disruption of SD-WAN operations. The affected versions include Orchestrator 9.1.2.40051 and below, 9.0.7.40108 and below, 8.10.23.40009 and below, and older branches not explicitly listed, indicating a wide range of deployments are vulnerable. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 9.8, reflecting the criticality due to network attack vector, no required privileges or user interaction, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Although no known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date, the severity and ease of exploitation make this a significant threat. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-287 (Improper Authentication), highlighting a fundamental security flaw in access control mechanisms. Aruba EdgeConnect Enterprise Orchestrator is a key component in managing SD-WAN infrastructure, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can lead to full network compromise if exploited.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-37914 is substantial due to the critical role Aruba EdgeConnect Enterprise Orchestrator plays in SD-WAN deployments, which are increasingly adopted across enterprises for secure and efficient network connectivity. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized administrative access, allowing attackers to alter network configurations, inject malicious routing policies, intercept sensitive data, or cause denial of service by disrupting orchestrator availability. This compromises confidentiality, integrity, and availability of corporate networks and data flows. Given the reliance on SD-WAN for connecting branch offices, cloud services, and remote workers, a successful attack could result in widespread operational disruption, data breaches, and potential regulatory non-compliance under GDPR due to loss or exposure of personal data. The threat is heightened for sectors with critical infrastructure or sensitive data, such as finance, healthcare, and government agencies in Europe. Additionally, the ability to bypass authentication remotely without user interaction lowers the barrier for attackers, increasing the likelihood of exploitation if patches are not applied promptly.

1. Immediate application of vendor-provided patches or updates to Aruba EdgeConnect Enterprise Orchestrator is the primary mitigation step. Organizations should verify their Orchestrator version and upgrade to a fixed version above the affected releases. 2. If patching is not immediately feasible, restrict network access to the Orchestrator management interface using network segmentation, firewall rules, or VPNs to limit exposure to trusted administrative hosts only. 3. Implement strict monitoring and logging of access to the Orchestrator, including failed and successful login attempts, to detect anomalous activities indicative of exploitation attempts. 4. Employ multi-factor authentication (MFA) where supported to add an additional layer of security, although this may not fully mitigate the bypass vulnerability itself. 5. Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments on SD-WAN infrastructure to identify and remediate similar issues proactively. 6. Develop and test incident response plans specific to SD-WAN compromise scenarios to ensure rapid containment and recovery. 7. Engage with Aruba support and subscribe to security advisories to stay informed about updates and emerging threats related to this product.