BIG-IP: Improper Certificate Validation
CVE-2022-34865 is a critical-severity improper certificate validation vulnerability in BIG-IP from F5, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.1 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 13.1.x*, 14.1.5, 15.1.6.1 as the first without the flaw, so updating BIG-IP to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.45% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Update BIG-IP to 13.1.x* or 14.1.5 or 15.1.6.1, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Big-ip Access Policy Manager to 14.1.5 or 15.1.6.1, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Big-ip Advanced Firewall Manager to 14.1.5 or 15.1.6.1, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Read the advisory on support.f5.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| F5 | BIG-IP | 13.1.0 up to, but not including, 13.1.x*; 14.1.x up to, but not including, 14.1.5; 15.1.x up to, but not including, 15.1.6.1 | 13.1.x*, 14.1.5, 15.1.6.1 |
| F5 | Big-ip Access Policy Manager | 13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 up to, but not including, 14.1.5; 15.1.0 up to, but not including, 15.1.6.1 | 14.1.5, 15.1.6.1 |
| F5 | Big-ip Advanced Firewall Manager | 13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 up to, but not including, 14.1.5; 15.1.0 up to, but not including, 15.1.6.1 | 14.1.5, 15.1.6.1 |
| F5 | Big-ip Analytics | 13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 up to, but not including, 14.1.5; 15.1.0 up to, but not including, 15.1.6.1 | 14.1.5, 15.1.6.1 |
| F5 | Big-ip Application Acceleration Manager | 13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 up to, but not including, 14.1.5; 15.1.0 up to, but not including, 15.1.6.1 | 14.1.5, 15.1.6.1 |
| F5 | Big-ip Application Security Manager | 13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 up to, but not including, 14.1.5; 15.1.0 up to, but not including, 15.1.6.1 | 14.1.5, 15.1.6.1 |
| F5 | Big-ip Domain Name System | 13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 up to, but not including, 14.1.5; 15.1.0 up to, but not including, 15.1.6.1 | 14.1.5, 15.1.6.1 |
| F5 | Big-ip Fraud Protection Service | 13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 up to, but not including, 14.1.5; 15.1.0 up to, but not including, 15.1.6.1 | 14.1.5, 15.1.6.1 |
| F5 | Big-ip Global Traffic Manager | 13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 up to, but not including, 14.1.5; 15.1.0 up to, but not including, 15.1.6.1 | 14.1.5, 15.1.6.1 |
| F5 | Big-ip Link Controller | 13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 up to, but not including, 14.1.5; 15.1.0 up to, but not including, 15.1.6.1 | 14.1.5, 15.1.6.1 |
| F5 | Big-ip Local Traffic Manager | 13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 up to, but not including, 14.1.5; 15.1.0 up to, but not including, 15.1.6.1 | 14.1.5, 15.1.6.1 |
| F5 | Big-ip Policy Enforcement Manager | 13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 up to, but not including, 14.1.5; 15.1.0 up to, but not including, 15.1.6.1 | 14.1.5, 15.1.6.1 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 4.8 | Medium | CNA (f5.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 9.1 | Critical | NVD |
Official description
In BIG-IP Versions 15.1.x before 15.1.6.1, 14.1.x before 14.1.5, and all versions of 13.1.x, Traffic Intelligence feeds, which use HTTPS, do not verify the remote endpoint identity, allowing for potential data poisoning. Note: Software versions which have reached End of Technical Support (EoTS) are not evaluated.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Certificate Validation
The product does not validate, or incorrectly validates, a certificate.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Certificates should be carefully managed and checked to assure that data are encrypted with the intended owner's public key.
- If certificate pinning is being used, ensure that all relevant properties of the certificate are fully validated before the certificate is pinned, including the hostname.
More Improper Certificate Validation vulnerabilities (CWE-295)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
Other vulnerabilities in BIG-IP
- 9.8 Critical severity
F5 BIG-IP APM Heap-based Buffer Overflow Exploited
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.7 High severity
- 8.7 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
Recent Improper Certificate Validation vulnerabilities
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.4 High severity
- 9.6 Critical severity
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