CVE-2025-37145 is an arbitrary file download vulnerability identified in 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. The vulnerability resides in a low-level interface library component of the AOS-10 Gateway and AOS-8 Controller/Mobility Conductor platforms. An attacker who has authenticated access with high privileges can exploit this flaw by crafting specific requests that leverage the improper handling of file paths (classified under CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory). This allows the attacker to download arbitrary files from the system, potentially exposing sensitive configuration files, credentials, or other critical data stored on the device. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.9, reflecting a medium severity level, with the vector indicating network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), high privileges required (PR:H), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), high confidentiality impact (C:H), and no impact on integrity or availability (I:N/A:N). There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, and no official patches have been released yet. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require user interaction but does require authenticated access with elevated privileges, limiting the attack surface to insiders or compromised accounts. The flaw could be leveraged to gather intelligence or prepare for further attacks by exfiltrating sensitive files. ArubaOS is widely deployed in enterprise networking environments, including wireless controllers and mobility conductors, making this vulnerability relevant to organizations relying on HPE's networking infrastructure.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-37145 is the potential exposure of sensitive information stored on ArubaOS devices, including network configurations, credentials, and security policies. This could facilitate further attacks such as lateral movement, privilege escalation, or targeted espionage. Confidentiality is significantly impacted, while integrity and availability remain unaffected. Organizations in critical infrastructure sectors, government, finance, and telecommunications that rely on ArubaOS for network management and wireless connectivity are at heightened risk. The requirement for high-privilege authentication reduces the likelihood of external attackers exploiting this vulnerability directly; however, insider threats or compromised administrative accounts could lead to exploitation. The absence of known exploits in the wild provides a window for proactive defense, but the lack of patches necessitates immediate compensating controls. Data breaches resulting from this vulnerability could lead to regulatory penalties under GDPR, reputational damage, and operational disruptions if sensitive network information is disclosed.

1. Restrict administrative access to ArubaOS devices strictly to trusted personnel and enforce strong authentication mechanisms such as multi-factor authentication (MFA). 2. Conduct thorough audits of user accounts and privileges to ensure no unnecessary high-privilege accounts exist. 3. Monitor and log all file access and download activities on ArubaOS devices to detect anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. 4. Segment network management interfaces to limit exposure to only authorized management networks and devices. 5. Implement strict network access controls and firewall rules to restrict access to ArubaOS management ports. 6. Prepare for patch deployment by maintaining close communication with HPE for updates and advisories. 7. Educate administrators about the vulnerability and the importance of safeguarding credentials. 8. Consider deploying intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) tuned to detect suspicious file download patterns on ArubaOS devices. 9. Regularly back up device configurations securely to enable rapid recovery if compromise occurs. 10. Review and update incident response plans to include scenarios involving ArubaOS compromise.