CVE-2021-25162Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Unauthenticated command execution via unsanitized filename

Published Mar 30, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

OS command injection in HPE Aruba Instant affected releases allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands through the WebUI. When a client requests an HTTP-directory file without accepting gzip, the web server passes its unsanitized filename to gunzip. Exploitation requires a specially named file in that directory first, but the disclosed unauthenticated chain satisfies that gate and runs commands on the access point.

CVSS severity8.1
High
EPSS probability25.57%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

OS command injection in HPE Aruba Instant affected releases allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands through the WebUI. When a client requests an HTTP-directory file without accepting gzip, the web server passes its unsanitized filename to gunzip. Exploitation requires a specially named file in that directory first, but the disclosed unauthenticated chain satisfies that gate and runs commands on the access point.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-25162
Published
Mar 30, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
Product
Aruba Instant
Classifications
CWE-78, T1059, T1190
Attack vector
network
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 6.4.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 privilegesunauthenticated

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

8.1NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.3NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

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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