AOS-CX: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory
CVE-2026-73752 is a high-severity improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory vulnerability in AOS-CX from Hewlett Packard Enterprise, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 out of 10. It can be exploited from the same local network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected AOS-CX versions: 10.18.0000 through 10.18.0001; 10.17.0000 through 10.17.1021; 10.16.0000 through 10.16.1051, and others listed below. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.47% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Arubaos-cx to 10.10.1181 or 10.13.1190 or 10.16.1060 or 10.17.1030, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Read the advisory on support.hpe.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hewlett Packard Enterprise | AOS-CX | 10.18.0000 through 10.18.0001; 10.17.0000 through 10.17.1021; 10.16.0000 through 10.16.1051; 10.13.0000 through 10.13.1180; 10.10.0000 through 10.10.1180 | Not stated |
| Hewlett Packard Enterprise | Arubaos-cx | before 10.10.1181; 10.13.0000 up to, but not including, 10.13.1190; 10.16.0000 up to, but not including, 10.16.1060; 10.17.0000 up to, but not including, 10.17.1030; 10.18.0001 | 10.10.1181, 10.13.1190, 10.16.1060, 10.17.1030 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- AdjacentThe attacker must be on the same local network segment.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (hpe.com).
Official description
An unauthenticated arbitrary file write vulnerability exists in an API endpoint of AOS-CX. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability allows an attacker to write arbitrary files to the underlying operating system, which could lead to remote code execution.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory
The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.
- Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid.
- Use an application firewall that can detect attacks against this weakness. It can be beneficial in cases in which the code cannot be fixed (because it is controlled by a third party), as an emergency prevention measure while more comprehensive software assurance measures are applied, or to provide defense in depth.
More Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory vulnerabilities (CWE-22)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other vulnerabilities in AOS-CX
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.4 High severity
- 8.3 High severity
- 8.2 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.1 High severity
Recent Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.0 Critical severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 7.3 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
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