CVE-2021-25158Public exploit

Unauthenticated file read via PAPI reference race

Published Mar 30, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Arbitrary file read in HPE Aruba Instant affected releases allows remote attackers on the same wired network to read device files. The PAPI handler can be raced into setting msg_ref to /tmp/cfg-plaintext while an unauthenticated HTTPS single_signon request retrieves that file. No account is required, but the attacker must share the wired network; disclosed exploitation reads plaintext configuration credentials.

CVSS severity5.9
Medium
EPSS probability30.46%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Arbitrary file read in HPE Aruba Instant affected releases allows remote attackers on the same wired network to read device files. The PAPI handler can be raced into setting msg_ref to /tmp/cfg-plaintext while an unauthenticated HTTPS single_signon request retrieves that file. No account is required, but the attacker must share the wired network; disclosed exploitation reads plaintext configuration credentials.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-25158
Published
Mar 30, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
Product
Aruba Instant
Classifications
CWE-362, T1552.001
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 30, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=Aruba Instant 6.5.x: 6.5.4.18 and below
  2. Affected versionversion=Aruba Instant 8.3.x: 8.3.0.14 and below
  3. Affected versionversion=Aruba Instant 8.5.x: 8.5.0.11 and below
  4. Affected versionversion=Aruba Instant 8.6.x: 8.6.0.7 and below
  5. Affected versionversion=Aruba Instant 8.7.x: 8.7.1.1 and below

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) · Aruba Instantversion=Aruba Instant 6.5.x: 6.5.4.18 and below; version=Aruba Instant 8.3.x: 8.3.0.14 and below; version=Aruba Instant 8.5.x: 8.5.0.11 and below; version=Aruba Instant 8.6.x: 8.6.0.7 and below; version=Aruba Instant 8.7.x: 8.7.1.1 and below

Published CVSS scores

5.9NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
4.3NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectoradjacent
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-362Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition')
T1552.001Credentials In Files

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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