Description

Vulnerabilities in the API of HPE Networking Fabric Composer could allow an authenticated low privilege operator user to access sensitive information. A successful exploit allows an attacker to access data beyond what is authorized by the user's existing privilege level, which could be used to potentially gain further access to network services supported by HPE Networking Fabric Composer.

Executive Summary

Technical Details

Mitigations

References

Additional Metadata

{
  "score": "6.5",
  "pubDate": "2026-09-01T20:17:20.270Z",
  "pubdate": "2026-09-01T20:17:20.270Z",
  "executiveSummary": "HPE Networking Fabric Composer contains a critical vulnerability within its API layer related to inadequate access control mechanisms. This flaw constitutes an Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR) or broken access control vulnerability, enabling authenticated low-privilege operator users to bypass authorization boundaries. By manipulating API requests, an attacker can access sensitive information, configuration data, or operational records that should be restricted based on the principle of least privilege. The impact of this vulnerability is significant, as it facilitates unauthorized data exfiltration and provides attackers with the context necessary to perform lateral movement or privilege escalation within the broader network ecosystem managed by the appliance. Exploitation requires the attacker to possess valid, low-privilege credentials on the system, but does not necessitate further administrative permissions. This exposure creates a substantial risk for organizations relying on the composer for network automation and orchestration, as it undermines the integrity of internal access controls and potentially compromises the security posture of supported network services.",
  "technicalDetails": "The vulnerability resides in the API endpoints of HPE Networking Fabric Composer, which fails to correctly validate the authorization context of a user when performing specific data retrieval operations. The core issue is an improper enforcement of server-side access controls during object reference handling. When an authenticated operator with low-level privileges interacts with the API, the system fails to verify whether the requester maintains sufficient authorization to access the target resource or specific object requested through the API parameter.\nThe attack flow initiates when an authenticated attacker monitors the traffic between the client and the HPE Networking Fabric Composer API. Upon identifying API calls that reference specific resources via IDs or indices, the attacker can systematically modify these identifiers. Because the application lacks robust object-level authorization checks, the backend service processes these modified requests without validating the ownership or permission level associated with the requested object. Consequently, the API returns sensitive data points, configuration payloads, or administrative metadata that should only be accessible to users with higher privilege roles.\nThe technical root cause involves a failure in the application's authorization logic, where reliance is placed on client-side state or incomplete server-side validation. By targeting the underlying RESTful API, an attacker can bypass the intended interface restrictions. The lack of granular authorization checks at the API controller or service layer allows for the unauthorized retrieval of data beyond the scope of an operator's role. This is often characterized by the absence of identity-aware validation checks (e.g., verifying if User X has access to Resource Y) during the execution of data fetching routines.\nThe post-exploitation impact extends beyond mere information disclosure. The data harvested through this vulnerability often includes system configurations, network topology maps, or API keys for downstream network devices managed by Fabric Composer. An attacker can leverage this exfiltrated intelligence to identify network vulnerabilities, craft sophisticated payloads for targeted attacks against infrastructure components, or attempt to elevate their privileges by abusing exposed sensitive functions discovered through the initial unauthorized access. The vulnerability persists across all scenarios where the API does not perform secondary checks against the user session's authorization claims before fulfilling a request for a restricted object."
}