BIG-IP: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component
CVE-2022-35735 is a high-severity improper neutralization of special elements in output used by a downstream component vulnerability in BIG-IP from F5, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.2 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 13.1.x*, 14.1.5.1, 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 0.91% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 61% of scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update BIG-IP to 13.1.x* or 14.1.5.1 or 15.1.6.1 or 16.1.3.1, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Big-ip Access Policy Manager to 14.1.5.1 or 15.1.6.1 or 16.1.3.1, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Big-ip Advanced Firewall Manager to 14.1.5.1 or 15.1.6.1 or 16.1.3.1, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Read the advisory on support.f5.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
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, 14.1.5.1; 15.1.x up to, but not including, 15.1.6.1; 16.1.x up to, but not including, 16.1.3.1 | 13.1.x*, 14.1.5.1, 15.1.6.1, 16.1.3.1 |
| F5 | Big-ip Access Policy Manager | 13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 up to, but not including, 14.1.5.1; 15.1.0 up to, but not including, 15.1.6.1; 16.1.0 up to, but not including, 16.1.3.1 | 14.1.5.1, 15.1.6.1, 16.1.3.1 |
| F5 | Big-ip Advanced Firewall Manager | 13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 up to, but not including, 14.1.5.1; 15.1.0 up to, but not including, 15.1.6.1; 16.1.0 up to, but not including, 16.1.3.1 | 14.1.5.1, 15.1.6.1, 16.1.3.1 |
| F5 | Big-ip Analytics | 13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 up to, but not including, 14.1.5.1; 15.1.0 up to, but not including, 15.1.6.1; 16.1.0 up to, but not including, 16.1.3.1 | 14.1.5.1, 15.1.6.1, 16.1.3.1 |
| F5 | Big-ip Application Acceleration Manager | 13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 up to, but not including, 14.1.5.1; 15.1.0 up to, but not including, 15.1.6.1; 16.1.0 up to, but not including, 16.1.3.1 | 14.1.5.1, 15.1.6.1, 16.1.3.1 |
| F5 | Big-ip Application Security Manager | 13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 up to, but not including, 14.1.5.1; 15.1.0 up to, but not including, 15.1.6.1; 16.1.0 up to, but not including, 16.1.3.1 | 14.1.5.1, 15.1.6.1, 16.1.3.1 |
| F5 | Big-ip Domain Name System | 13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 up to, but not including, 14.1.5.1; 15.1.0 up to, but not including, 15.1.6.1; 16.1.0 up to, but not including, 16.1.3.1 | 14.1.5.1, 15.1.6.1, 16.1.3.1 |
| F5 | Big-ip Fraud Protection Service | 13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 up to, but not including, 14.1.5.1; 15.1.0 up to, but not including, 15.1.6.1; 16.1.0 up to, but not including, 16.1.3.1 | 14.1.5.1, 15.1.6.1, 16.1.3.1 |
| F5 | Big-ip Global Traffic Manager | 13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 up to, but not including, 14.1.5.1; 15.1.0 up to, but not including, 15.1.6.1; 16.1.0 up to, but not including, 16.1.3.1 | 14.1.5.1, 15.1.6.1, 16.1.3.1 |
| F5 | Big-ip Link Controller | 13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 up to, but not including, 14.1.5.1; 15.1.0 up to, but not including, 15.1.6.1; 16.1.0 up to, but not including, 16.1.3.1 | 14.1.5.1, 15.1.6.1, 16.1.3.1 |
| F5 | Big-ip Local Traffic Manager | 13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 up to, but not including, 14.1.5.1; 15.1.0 up to, but not including, 15.1.6.1; 16.1.0 up to, but not including, 16.1.3.1 | 14.1.5.1, 15.1.6.1, 16.1.3.1 |
| F5 | Big-ip Policy Enforcement Manager | 13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 up to, but not including, 14.1.5.1; 15.1.0 up to, but not including, 15.1.6.1; 16.1.0 up to, but not including, 16.1.3.1 | 14.1.5.1, 15.1.6.1, 16.1.3.1 |
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
- HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
- 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
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.2 | High | CNA (f5.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.2 | High | NVD |
Official description
In BIG-IP Versions 16.1.x before 16.1.3.1, 15.1.x before 15.1.6.1, 14.1.x before 14.1.5.1, and all versions of 13.1.x, an authenticated attacker with Resource Administrator or Manager privileges can create or modify existing monitor objects in the Configuration utility in an undisclosed manner leading to a privilege escalation. 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 Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component
The product constructs all or part of a command, data structure, or record using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify how it is parsed or interpreted when it is sent to a downstream component.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Programming languages and supporting technologies might be chosen which are not subject to these issues.
- Utilize an appropriate mix of allowlist and denylist parsing to filter control-plane syntax from all input.
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 Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component vulnerabilities
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
Spotted an error? Tell us.