HPE Aruba Private 5G Platform Vulnerability Lets Attackers Steal Credentials

Key Takeaways

• HPE has identified and patched a critical vulnerability in its Aruba Networking Private 5G Core On-Prem platform.
• The flaw, CVE-2026-23818, is an open redirect issue allowing attackers to steal user credentials.
• Affected systems include the platform’s graphical user interface (GUI).
• A fix is available, and administrators are urged to apply the security patch immediately.

Hewlett-Packard Enterprise (HPE) has issued a security advisory concerning a significant vulnerability within its Aruba Networking Private 5G Core On-Prem platform. This flaw could enable malicious actors to compromise user credentials through an open redirect mechanism embedded in the system’s login process.

Designated as CVE-2026-23818, the vulnerability resides within the platform’s graphical user interface (GUI). It specifically exploits an open redirect weakness during the user authentication flow, presenting a direct path for credential theft.

Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting a specialized, malicious URL. This URL is then used to target an authenticated user, initiating the credential harvesting process.

Technical Mechanism of the Attack

The core of this attack relies on social engineering and user deception. When a targeted user clicks on the manipulated link, the inherent vulnerability redirects the victim to an external server under the attacker’s control.

This malicious server hosts a meticulously designed fake login page, engineered to mirror the legitimate HPE Aruba portal. Unsuspecting users, believing they need to authenticate, input their credentials into this fraudulent interface, which the attacker then secretly captures.

To avoid suspicion and maintain the illusion, the fake page subsequently redirects the user back to the authentic login screen, making the compromise difficult to detect immediately.

Private 5G networks are integral to modern enterprise operations, facilitating the transmission of sensitive data and connecting mission-critical business devices. The compromise of administrative credentials in such an environment poses a severe risk.

Should attackers successfully acquire valid administrative login details, they could bypass standard security protocols and gain unauthorized access to the network management console. This level of access would empower threat actors to modify network configurations, disrupt essential services, or launch more profound, sophisticated attacks within the enterprise infrastructure.

What You Should Do

• Immediately apply the security patches detailed in HPE security bulletin HPESBNW05032 to address the open redirect vulnerability.
• Educate staff on recognizing suspicious links and the importance of verifying URLs before entering any login credentials.
• Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) across all accounts to provide an additional layer of security, even if a password is compromised.

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