Listen to this Post
The vulnerability CVE-2026-23808 resides in the standardized wireless roaming protocol implementation used by HPE Aruba Networking Operating System (AOS) . The flaw allows a malicious actor within radio range to install an attacker-controlled Group Temporal Key (GTK) onto a client device . The GTK is a shared key used for broadcast and multicast traffic in a Wi-Fi network. During the normal 4-way handshake or group key handshake, a rogue access point or a man-in-the-middle can manipulate these messages to force the client to accept a GTK chosen by the attacker. Once the client installs this malicious key, the attacker can decrypt multicast traffic, inject forged multicast or broadcast frames into the network, bypass client isolation mechanisms, and compromise the integrity of cross-client traffic, ultimately breaking network segmentation.
DailyCVE Form:
Platform: HPE Aruba Networking
Version: AOS 10.4.x, 10.7.x, 10.8.x, 8.10.x, 8.12.x, 8.13.x
Vulnerability: GTK Installation Flaw
Severity: 5.4 MEDIUM
Date: March 4 2026
Prediction: March 18 2026
What Undercode Say:
Analytics:
The CVSS vector string for this vulnerability is `CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N` . This indicates an Attack Vector of Adjacent (AV:A), meaning the attacker must be on the same physical or logical network boundary (i.e., within Wi-Fi range). The Attack Complexity is Low (AC:L), and there are no Privileges Required (PR:N) or User Interaction (UI:N). The scope is Unchanged (S:U), with a Low impact to Confidentiality (C:L) and Integrity (I:L), and no impact to Availability (A:N).
To check your current ArubaOS version via CLI:
show version
To monitor for unexpected GTK handshake messages or potential rogue APs broadcasting malicious GTKs, you can use `tcpdump` to filter for EAPOL frames (the protocol carrying 4-way handshake data):
tcpdump -i wlan0 -n -e -s 0 -vvv -Y "eapol"
Exploit:
An attacker would set up a rogue access point configured to impersonate a legitimate network. When a client attempts to connect or roam, the attacker injects a crafted EAPOL-Key frame containing a Group Temporal Handshake message with an attacker-defined GTK. The client, vulnerable due to insufficient validation of the GTK source during the roaming protocol, accepts this key.
Conceptual frame injection test (requires hardware capable of monitor mode and packet injection, e.g., using `mdk4` or `aireplay-ng` concepts):
This is a conceptual representation of injecting a forged GTK update. Actual exploitation uses crafted EAPOL frames. aireplay-ng -3 -b BSSID -h ClientMAC wlan0mon
Protection from this CVE:
Update to the patched versions of ArubaOS as listed in the HPE security bulletin HPESBNW05026 .
– ArubaOS 10.4.x: Upgrade to 10.4.1.11 or later
– ArubaOS 10.7.x: Upgrade to 10.7.2.3 or later
– ArubaOS 10.8.x: Upgrade to 10.8.0.1 or later
– ArubaOS 8.10.x: Upgrade to 8.10.0.22 or later
– ArubaOS 8.12.x: Upgrade to 8.12.0.7 or later
– ArubaOS 8.13.x: Upgrade to 8.13.1.2 or later
Implement 802.11w (Management Frame Protection) to help protect against certain deauthentication and forged frame attacks. Deploy Wireless Intrusion Prevention Systems (WIPS) to detect and contain rogue APs attempting to exploit this flaw.
Impact:
Successful exploitation allows an attacker to bypass client isolation, intercept broadcast/multicast traffic meant for other users, and inject malicious frames into the network . This compromises the confidentiality of network communications and the integrity of data being transmitted, potentially leading to further attacks like ARP spoofing or man-in-the-middle attacks on adjacent clients.
🎯Let’s Practice Exploiting & Learn Patching For Free:
Sources:
Reported By: nvd.nist.gov
Extra Source Hub:
Undercode
