CVE-2023-38484

Early-boot code execution via BIOS buffer overflow

Published Sep 6, 2023 · Updated Sep 30, 2024

Buffer overflow in the BIOS of affected ArubaOS releases allows attackers to execute arbitrary code during early boot. HPE has not disclosed the affected BIOS routines or the input whose bounds are mishandled. Exploitation requires prior compromise and a root shell on the local controller, after which code can expose or alter sensitive controller data and completely compromise the system.

CVSS severity8.0
High
EPSS probability0.43%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Buffer overflow in the BIOS of affected ArubaOS releases allows attackers to execute arbitrary code during early boot. HPE has not disclosed the affected BIOS routines or the input whose bounds are mishandled. Exploitation requires prior compromise and a root shell on the local controller, after which code can expose or alter sensitive controller data and completely compromise the system.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-38484
Published
Sep 6, 2023
Updated
Sep 30, 2024
Vendor
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
Product
ArubaOS
Classifications
CWE-94, T1542.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 6, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 30, 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-os-10.4.x.x <=10.4.0.1
  2. Affected versionversion=aruba-os-8.10.x.x <=8.10.0.6
  3. Affected versionversion=aruba-os-8.11.x.x <=8.11.1.0
  4. Affected versionversion=aruba-os-8.6.x.x <=8.6.0.21

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) · ArubaOSversion=aruba-os-10.4.x.x <=10.4.0.1; version=aruba-os-8.10.x.x <=8.10.0.6; version=aruba-os-8.11.x.x <=8.11.1.0; version=aruba-os-8.6.x.x <=8.6.0.21

Published CVSS scores

7.1Hewlett Packard EnterpriseAV:N/AC:H/Au:S/C:C/I:C/A:C
8.0Hewlett Packard EnterpriseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.4NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-94Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
T1542.001Pre-OS Boot: System Firmware

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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo