CVE-2025-37142 is an arbitrary file download vulnerability identified in the CLI binary of Hewlett Packard Enterprise's ArubaOS (AOS) 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 wireless networking and mobility controllers. The vulnerability allows an attacker who has authenticated access with high privileges to craft specific commands or requests that exploit the CLI binary to download arbitrary files from the system. This could include sensitive configuration files, credentials, or other data stored on the device. The vulnerability does not require user interaction beyond authentication, and the attack vector is network-based (AV:N). The attack complexity is low (AC:L), but the attacker must have high privileges (PR:H), which limits exploitation to insiders or attackers who have already compromised an account with elevated rights. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality (C:H) but does not affect integrity or availability. No known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date. ArubaOS devices are critical components in enterprise and service provider wireless infrastructure, making this vulnerability a concern for organizations relying on these systems for secure network access and mobility management. The lack of available patches at the time of disclosure necessitates immediate mitigation through access controls and monitoring.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-37142 is the potential unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information stored on ArubaOS devices. This could include network configurations, authentication credentials, or other sensitive files that, if exfiltrated, could facilitate further attacks or lateral movement within the network. Confidentiality breaches could lead to compliance violations under GDPR and other data protection regulations, resulting in legal and financial repercussions. The requirement for authenticated high-privilege access reduces the risk of external attackers exploiting this vulnerability directly but raises concerns about insider threats or compromised administrative accounts. Organizations with extensive ArubaOS deployments in critical infrastructure sectors such as telecommunications, finance, and government are at higher risk. The vulnerability does not directly impact system integrity or availability, so operational disruptions are less likely. However, the exposure of sensitive data could indirectly enable more severe attacks. The absence of known exploits in the wild provides a window for proactive mitigation before active exploitation occurs.

1. Immediately restrict CLI access to ArubaOS devices to a minimal set of trusted administrators using strong authentication methods such as multi-factor authentication (MFA). 2. Monitor and audit all privileged access and CLI command usage for unusual or unauthorized activity. 3. Implement network segmentation to isolate ArubaOS management interfaces from general user networks and the internet. 4. Apply vendor patches or updates as soon as they become available to remediate the vulnerability. 5. Use role-based access control (RBAC) to limit the privileges of accounts accessing the CLI, ensuring only necessary permissions are granted. 6. Conduct regular credential reviews and rotate administrative passwords to reduce the risk of compromised accounts. 7. Employ intrusion detection systems (IDS) and security information and event management (SIEM) solutions to detect anomalous file access or download attempts. 8. Educate administrators on the risks of this vulnerability and the importance of safeguarding privileged credentials. 9. If patching is delayed, consider temporary compensating controls such as disabling CLI access where feasible or using jump hosts with enhanced security controls.