BIG-IP: Use of Uninitialized Resource
CVE-2023-22281 is a high-severity use of uninitialized resource vulnerability in BIG-IP from F5, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 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 17.0.0.2, 16.1.3.3, 15.1.8 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 0.64% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 51% of scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update BIG-IP to 17.0.0.2 or 16.1.3.3 or 15.1.8 or 14.1.5.3, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Big-ip Advanced Firewall Manager to 14.1.5.3 or 15.1.8 or 16.1.3.3 or 17.0.0.2, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Read the advisory on my.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 | 17.0.0 up to, but not including, 17.0.0.2; 16.1.0 up to, but not including, 16.1.3.3; 15.1.0 up to, but not including, 15.1.8; 14.1.0 up to, but not including, 14.1.5.3; 13.1.0 and later | 17.0.0.2, 16.1.3.3, 15.1.8, 14.1.5.3 |
| F5 | Big-ip Advanced Firewall Manager | 13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 up to, but not including, 14.1.5.3; 15.1.0 up to, but not including, 15.1.8; 16.1.0 up to, but not including, 16.1.3.3; 17.0.0 up to, but not including, 17.0.0.2 | 14.1.5.3, 15.1.8, 16.1.3.3, 17.0.0.2 |
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
- NoneNo data is disclosed.
- Integrity
- NoneNothing can be modified.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 | High | CNA (f5.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 | High | NVD |
Official description
On versions 17.0.x before 17.0.0.2, 16.1.x before 16.1.3.3, 15.1.x before 15.1.8, 14.1.x before 14.1.5.3, and all versions of 13.1.x, when a BIG-IP AFM NAT policy with a destination NAT rule is configured on a FastL4 virtual server, undisclosed traffic can cause the Traffic Management Microkernel (TMM) to terminate. 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: Use of Uninitialized Resource
The product uses or accesses a resource that has not been initialized.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Explicitly initialize the resource before use. If this is performed through an API function or standard procedure, follow all required steps.
- Pay close attention to complex conditionals that affect initialization, since some branches might not perform the initialization.
- Avoid race conditions (CWE-362) during initialization routines.
More Use of Uninitialized Resource vulnerabilities (CWE-908)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
- 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 Use of Uninitialized Resource vulnerabilities
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
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