CVE-2021-25160Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Authenticated backup-file corruption via arbitrary content write

Published Mar 30, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Arbitrary file write in the Web UI of HPE Aruba Instant allows remote authenticated users to corrupt a specific backup file. The Web UI accepts attacker-controlled content for that designated backup file without preserving the file's integrity. Administrative authentication is required, and the documented impact is limited to corruption of that backup file rather than arbitrary filesystem writes.

CVSS severity4.9
Medium
EPSS probability6.61%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Arbitrary file write in the Web UI of HPE Aruba Instant allows remote authenticated users to corrupt a specific backup file. The Web UI accepts attacker-controlled content for that designated backup file without preserving the file's integrity. Administrative authentication is required, and the documented impact is limited to corruption of that backup file rather than arbitrary filesystem writes.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-25160
Published
Mar 30, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
Product
Aruba Instant
Classifications
T1565.001
Attack vector
network
Privileges
admin

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 6.4.x: 6.4.4.8-4.2.4.17 and below
  2. Affected versionversion=Aruba Instant 6.5.x: 6.5.4.18 and below
  3. Affected versionversion=Aruba Instant 8.3.x: 8.3.0.14 and below
  4. Affected versionversion=Aruba Instant 8.5.x: 8.5.0.11 and below
  5. Affected versionversion=Aruba Instant 8.6.x: 8.6.0.7 and below
  6. Affected versionversion=Aruba Instant 8.7.x: 8.7.1.1 and below

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) · Aruba Instantversion=Aruba Instant 6.4.x: 6.4.4.8-4.2.4.17 and below; version=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

4.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:N/I:P/A:N
4.9NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
4.9Hewlett Packard EnterpriseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
6.1Hewlett Packard EnterpriseAV:N/AC:L/Au:M/C:N/I:C/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1565.001Stored Data Manipulation

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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