BIG-IP: Missing Release of Resource after Effective Lifetime
CVE-2025-22891 is a high-severity missing release of resource after effective lifetime 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 17.1.2, 16.1.5 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 0.43% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update BIG-IP to 17.1.2 or 16.1.5, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Big-ip Policy Enforcement Manager to 15.1.10.6.0.11.6 or 16.1.5 or 17.1.2, 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 | 17.1.0 up to, but not including, 17.1.2; 16.1.0 up to, but not including, 16.1.5; 15.1.0 and later | 17.1.2, 16.1.5 |
| F5 | Big-ip Policy Enforcement Manager | 15.1.0 up to, but not including, 15.1.10.6.0.11.6; 16.1.0 up to, but not including, 16.1.5; 17.1.0 up to, but not including, 17.1.2 | 15.1.10.6.0.11.6, 16.1.5, 17.1.2 |
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 CNA (f5.com).
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 8.7 | High | CNA (f5.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 | High | CNA (f5.com) |
Official description
When BIG-IP PEM Control Plane listener Virtual Server is configured with Diameter Endpoint profile, undisclosed traffic can cause the Virtual Server to stop processing new client connections and an increase in memory resource utilization. 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: Missing Release of Resource after Effective Lifetime
The product does not release a resource after its effective lifetime has ended, i.e., after the resource is no longer needed.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Use a language that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid. For example, languages such as Java, Ruby, and Lisp perform automatic garbage collection that releases memory for objects that have been deallocated.
- It is good practice to be responsible for freeing all resources you allocate and to be consistent with how and where you free resources in a function. If you allocate resources that you intend to free upon completion of the function, you must be sure to free the resources at all exit points for that function including error conditions.
More Missing Release of Resource after Effective Lifetime vulnerabilities (CWE-772)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, 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 Missing Release of Resource after Effective Lifetime vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.7 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 5.8 Medium severity
Cisco ASA and FTD Denial-of-Service Exploited
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.6 High severity
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