CVE-2021-29143Network attack vector

Root command execution via external-storage command injection

Published Jul 22, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

OS command injection in HPE Aruba AOS-CX allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary commands as root through external storage. The external-storage handling path fails to neutralize attacker-controlled input before incorporating it into an operating-system command. Exploitation requires administrator credentials and a storage device connected to an affected CX switch, after which complete switch compromise is possible.

CVSS severity7.2
High
EPSS probability2.59%
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 AOS-CX allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary commands as root through external storage. The external-storage handling path fails to neutralize attacker-controlled input before incorporating it into an operating-system command. Exploitation requires administrator credentials and a storage device connected to an affected CX switch, after which complete switch compromise is possible.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-29143
Published
Jul 22, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
Product
AOS-CX
Classifications
CWE-78, CAPEC-88, T1059
Attack vector
network
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 22, 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 AOS-CX firmware: 10.04.xxxx - versions prior to 10.04.3070, 10.05.xxxx - versions prior to 10.05.0070, 10.06.xxxx - versions prior to 10.06.0110, 10.07.xxxx - versions prior to 10.07.0001

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) · AOS-CXversion=Aruba AOS-CX firmware: 10.04.xxxx - versions prior to 10.04.3070, 10.05.xxxx - versions prior to 10.05.0070, 10.06.xxxx - versions prior to 10.06.0110, 10.07.xxxx - versions prior to 10.07.0001

Published CVSS scores

7.2Hewlett Packard EnterpriseCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.2NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/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
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
CAPEC-88OS Command Injection
T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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