CVE-2023-38485Network attack vector

Authenticated boot-time code execution via BIOS buffer overflows

Published Sep 6, 2023 · Updated Sep 30, 2024

Out-of-bounds writes in the BIOS of Aruba 9200 and 9000 Series controllers allow remote authenticated users to execute code during boot. The published record identifies the BIOS but does not disclose which routine writes beyond a buffer or which input reaches it. Administrative privileges and high-complexity conditions are required; exploitation exposes and alters controller data and can fully compromise the device.

CVSS severity8.0
High
EPSS probability0.41%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Out-of-bounds writes in the BIOS of Aruba 9200 and 9000 Series controllers allow remote authenticated users to execute code during boot. The published record identifies the BIOS but does not disclose which routine writes beyond a buffer or which input reaches it. Administrative privileges and high-complexity conditions are required; exploitation exposes and alters controller data and can fully compromise the device.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-38485
Published
Sep 6, 2023
Updated
Sep 30, 2024
Vendor
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
Product
ArubaOS
Classifications
CWE-787, T1542.001
Attack vector
network
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_8.11.x.x <=8.6.0.21

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
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_8.11.x.x <=8.6.0.21

Published CVSS scores

8.0Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.4NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS: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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
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

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Your stack

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