CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2023-46748Exploited in the wildNVD status: Analyzed

F5 BIG-IP Configuration Utility SQL Injection

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2023-46748 is a high-severity improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command vulnerability in BIG-IP from F5, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. Affected BIG-IP versions: 17.1.0 and later; 16.1.0 and later; 15.1.0 and later, and others listed below. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on October 31, 2023, which means attacks have been observed in the wild.

Patch now

Attackers are already exploiting this vulnerability, according to CISA.

What to do

  1. Check which version of BIG-IP you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
  2. CISA's required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
  3. Read the advisory on my.f5.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
F5BIG-IP17.1.0 and later; 16.1.0 and later; 15.1.0 and later; 14.1.0 and later; 13.1.0 and laterNot stated
F5Big-ip Access Policy Manager13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 through 14.1.5; 15.1.0 through 15.1.10; 16.1.0 through 16.1.4; 17.1.0 through 17.1.1Not stated
F5Big-ip Advanced Firewall Manager13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 through 14.1.5; 15.1.0 through 15.1.10; 16.1.0 through 16.1.4; 17.1.0 through 17.1.1Not stated
F5Big-ip Carrier-grade Nat13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 through 14.1.5; 15.1.0 through 15.1.10; 16.1.0 through 16.1.4; 17.1.0 through 17.1.1Not stated
F5Big-ip Ddos Hybrid Defender13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 through 14.1.5; 15.1.0 through 15.1.10; 16.1.0 through 16.1.4; 17.1.0 through 17.1.1Not stated
F5Big-ip SSL Orchestrator13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 through 14.1.5; 15.1.0 through 15.1.10; 16.1.0 through 16.1.4; 17.1.0 through 17.1.1Not stated
F5Big-ip Local Traffic Manager13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 through 14.1.5; 15.1.0 through 15.1.10; 16.1.0 through 16.1.4; 17.1.0 through 17.1.1Not stated
F5Big-ip Policy Enforcement Manager13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 through 14.1.5; 15.1.0 through 15.1.10; 16.1.0 through 16.1.4; 17.1.0 through 17.1.1Not stated
F5Big-ip Automation Toolchain13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 through 14.1.5; 15.1.0 through 15.1.10; 16.1.0 through 16.1.4; 17.1.0 through 17.1.1Not stated
F5Big-ip Container Ingress Services13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 through 14.1.5; 15.1.0 through 15.1.10; 16.1.0 through 16.1.4; 17.1.0 through 17.1.1Not stated
F5Big-ip Advanced Web Application Firewall13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 through 14.1.5; 15.1.0 through 15.1.10; 16.1.0 through 16.1.4; 17.1.0 through 17.1.1Not stated
F5Big-ip Domain Name System13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 through 14.1.5; 15.1.0 through 15.1.10; 16.1.0 through 16.1.4; 17.1.0 through 17.1.1Not stated
F5Big-ip Application Security Manager13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 through 14.1.5; 15.1.0 through 15.1.10; 16.1.0 through 16.1.4; 17.1.0 through 17.1.1Not stated
F5Big-ip Analytics13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 through 14.1.5; 15.1.0 through 15.1.10; 16.1.0 through 16.1.4; 17.1.0 through 17.1.1Not stated
F5Big-ip Application Acceleration Manager13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 through 14.1.5; 15.1.0 through 15.1.10; 16.1.0 through 16.1.4; 17.1.0 through 17.1.1Not stated
F5Big-ip Application Visibility And Reporting13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 through 14.1.5; 15.1.0 through 15.1.10; 16.1.0 through 16.1.4; 17.1.0 through 17.1.1Not stated
F5Big-ip Fraud Protection Services13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 through 14.1.5; 15.1.0 through 15.1.10; 16.1.0 through 16.1.4; 17.1.0 through 17.1.1Not stated
F5Big-ip Global Traffic Manager13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 through 14.1.5; 15.1.0 through 15.1.10; 16.1.0 through 16.1.4; 17.1.0 through 17.1.1Not stated
F5Big-ip Link Controller13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 through 14.1.5; 15.1.0 through 15.1.10; 16.1.0 through 16.1.4; 17.1.0 through 17.1.1Not stated
F5Big-ip Webaccelerator13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 through 14.1.5; 15.1.0 through 15.1.10; 16.1.0 through 16.1.4; 17.1.0 through 17.1.1Not stated
F5Big-ip Websafe13.1.0 through 13.1.5; 14.1.0 through 14.1.5; 15.1.0 through 15.1.10; 16.1.0 through 16.1.4; 17.1.0 through 17.1.1Not stated

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
LowA basic user account is enough.
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:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.18.8HighCNA (f5.com)
CVSS 3.18.8HighNVD

Official description

An authenticated SQL injection vulnerability exists in the BIG-IP Configuration utility which may allow an authenticated attacker with network access to the Configuration utility through the BIG-IP management port and/or self IP addresses to execute arbitrary system commands. 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 used in an SQL Command

The product constructs all or part of an SQL command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended SQL command when it is sent to a downstream component. Without sufficient removal or quoting of SQL syntax in user-controllable inputs, the generated SQL query can cause those inputs to be interpreted as SQL instead of ordinary user data.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid. For example, consider using persistence layers such as Hibernate or Enterprise Java Beans, which can provide significant protection against SQL injection if used properly.
  • For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.
  • When the set of acceptable objects, such as filenames or URLs, is limited or known, create a mapping from a set of fixed input values (such as numeric IDs) to the actual filenames or URLs, and reject all other inputs.

More Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command vulnerabilities (CWE-89)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. Added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue.
  3. Deadline for US federal agencies to remediate, set by CISA.
  4. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: active, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  5. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Third-party and government advisories

Technical write-ups (may include proof of concept)

Other vulnerabilities in BIG-IP

All BIG-IP vulnerabilities

Recent Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command vulnerabilities

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