CVE-2025-37140 identifies an arbitrary file download vulnerability in the CLI binary of Hewlett Packard Enterprise's ArubaOS (AOS) operating systems, specifically affecting versions 8.10.0.0, 8.12.0.0, 8.13.0.0, 10.4.0.0, and 10.7.0.0. ArubaOS is widely used in enterprise networking equipment, including controllers and mobility conductors that manage wireless and wired network infrastructure. The vulnerability allows an attacker who has authenticated access with high privileges to craft specific commands or requests through the CLI interface to download arbitrary files from the system. This can lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive configuration files, credentials, or other critical data stored on the device. The CVSS v3.1 score is 4.9, reflecting a medium severity primarily due to the requirement for authenticated access and the lack of impact on integrity or availability. The attack vector is network-based with low attack complexity and no need for user interaction, but the prerequisite of high privileges limits exploitation to insiders or attackers who have already compromised an account. No public exploits or patches have been reported as of the publication date, indicating the need for proactive defensive measures. The vulnerability does not allow code execution or denial of service but poses a confidentiality risk that could facilitate further attacks if sensitive information is leaked.

For European organizations, the confidentiality breach posed by CVE-2025-37140 could expose critical network configurations, authentication credentials, or proprietary information, potentially enabling lateral movement or escalation by threat actors. Enterprises relying on ArubaOS for managing large-scale wireless and wired networks, including government agencies, financial institutions, and critical infrastructure providers, face increased risk if privileged accounts are compromised. The vulnerability could undermine trust in network security and lead to regulatory compliance issues under GDPR if personal data or sensitive information is leaked. While the impact on network availability and integrity is minimal, the exposure of sensitive files could facilitate subsequent attacks such as privilege escalation, espionage, or sabotage. The requirement for authenticated access reduces the likelihood of external remote exploitation but highlights the importance of internal security controls and monitoring. Organizations with extensive deployments of HPE ArubaOS devices must assess their exposure and implement targeted mitigations to prevent data leakage and insider threats.

To mitigate CVE-2025-37140 effectively, European organizations should implement the following specific measures: 1) Restrict CLI access strictly to trusted administrators using network segmentation and access control lists (ACLs) to limit exposure to management interfaces. 2) Enforce strong multi-factor authentication (MFA) and robust password policies for all privileged accounts to reduce the risk of credential compromise. 3) Conduct regular audits of user accounts and permissions to ensure that only necessary personnel have high-level access. 4) Monitor CLI access logs and network traffic for anomalous commands or file download attempts indicative of exploitation. 5) Prepare for rapid deployment of official patches or updates from HPE once released, including testing in controlled environments to avoid operational disruption. 6) Consider deploying network intrusion detection or prevention systems (IDS/IPS) with signatures tuned to detect suspicious CLI activity related to file downloads. 7) Educate administrators on the risks of this vulnerability and the importance of safeguarding credentials and session security. 8) If possible, isolate ArubaOS management interfaces from general network access by placing them on dedicated management VLANs or out-of-band networks. These targeted actions go beyond generic advice by focusing on reducing the attack surface, enhancing detection, and ensuring readiness for patching.