CVE-2025-37147 is a Secure Boot bypass vulnerability affecting Hewlett Packard Enterprise's ArubaOS Access Points, specifically versions 8.10.0.0, 8.12.0.0, 8.13.0.0, 10.4.0.0, and 10.7.0.0. Secure Boot is a hardware-root-of-trust mechanism designed to ensure that only firmware signed by the vendor can execute on the device, preventing unauthorized or malicious firmware from running. This vulnerability allows an attacker to circumvent this verification process, effectively disabling the hardware root of trust. By exploiting this flaw, an adversary can load and execute modified or custom firmware on the affected Access Points without requiring privileges or user interaction, though local access is necessary. The compromise of firmware integrity at this level can lead to persistent control over the device, enabling attackers to intercept, manipulate, or redirect network traffic, conduct espionage, or use the device as a foothold for further network intrusion. The CVSS 3.1 score of 7.1 reflects a high severity, with the attack vector being local (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and a scope change (S:C) indicating that the vulnerability affects components beyond the initially vulnerable component. The impact is primarily on integrity (I:H) with no direct impact on confidentiality or availability. No public exploits are known at this time, but the vulnerability's nature makes it a critical concern for organizations using ArubaOS Access Points, especially in environments where physical or local network access could be obtained by attackers. The lack of available patches at the time of publication underscores the need for immediate risk mitigation and monitoring.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-37147 is significant due to the widespread use of HPE Aruba Access Points in enterprise, government, and critical infrastructure networks. Exploitation could allow attackers to install persistent malicious firmware, leading to long-term compromise of wireless network infrastructure. This can result in unauthorized network access, interception of sensitive communications, and the potential for lateral movement within corporate or governmental networks. The integrity of network devices is critical for maintaining trust in network security; thus, this vulnerability undermines foundational security controls. The ability to bypass Secure Boot without authentication or user interaction increases the risk of stealthy, persistent attacks that are difficult to detect and remediate. European organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, telecommunications, and government are particularly at risk due to the sensitive nature of their data and the criticality of their network infrastructure. Additionally, the vulnerability could be leveraged in targeted attacks by nation-state actors or advanced persistent threat groups, especially given the geopolitical tensions in Europe. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive defense, but the potential impact warrants urgent attention.

1. Apply vendor patches immediately once they become available to address the Secure Boot bypass vulnerability. 2. Restrict physical and network access to ArubaOS Access Points, especially management interfaces, to trusted personnel and networks only. 3. Implement network segmentation to limit the exposure of vulnerable Access Points and reduce the attack surface. 4. Employ strict access controls and monitoring on local network segments where Access Points reside to detect unauthorized access attempts. 5. Use hardware security modules or trusted platform modules (TPMs) where possible to enhance device integrity verification. 6. Regularly audit firmware versions and verify cryptographic signatures to detect unauthorized firmware changes. 7. Deploy network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) and anomaly detection tools to identify unusual device behavior indicative of firmware compromise. 8. Maintain an incident response plan that includes procedures for firmware compromise scenarios. 9. Educate IT staff on the risks of firmware-level attacks and the importance of physical security for network devices. 10. Engage with HPE support and subscribe to security advisories to stay informed about updates and patches.