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. This vulnerability poses a serious risk as it can be exploited remotely, leading to unauthorized access and control over affected systems.
With a CVSS score of 8.8, this vulnerability is classified as high severity. The potential impact on organizations includes significant risk to confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Attackers may leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary commands, which could lead to complete system compromise.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately. This vulnerability has been added to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, indicating that it is actively being targeted in the wild. The vendor has provided mitigation strategies, which should be followed to protect systems from exploitation.
If your organization uses any affected versions of F5 BIG-IP, immediate action is required to remediate this vulnerability. The failure to address this vulnerability may expose organizations to severe security incidents.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-46748 is an authenticated SQL injection vulnerability present in the BIG-IP Configuration utility. It was published on October 26, 2023, and is classified under CWE-89, which relates to SQL injection flaws.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is network-based, and it requires low complexity to exploit, as well as low privileges for the attacker. User interaction is not necessary, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous.
The CVSS vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, which reflects a high risk across confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the BIG-IP Configuration utility. This oversight allows attackers to manipulate SQL queries by injecting malicious SQL statements, which can lead to unauthorized command execution.
The attack vector is network-based, meaning that attackers can exploit this vulnerability remotely through the management port or self IP addresses. The complexity of the attack is low, requiring only low privileges to execute the attack without the need for user interaction.
In terms of impact, the vulnerability significantly compromises confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Attackers gaining access through this vulnerability may manipulate sensitive data, disrupt services, or fully compromise the system.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Risk to organizations includes severe consequences stemming from unauthorized access to sensitive information and system commands. The ability for an attacker to execute arbitrary system commands poses a direct threat to operational security and data integrity.
With the vulnerability being actively exploited as indicated by its inclusion in the KEV catalog, organizations are at risk of real-time attacks. The potential blast radius is significant, affecting all configurations that utilize the vulnerable BIG-IP products. Urgency for remediation is classified as critical, given the high CVSS score and active exploitation.
Organizations should also be aware of the EPSS score of 0.043, placing this vulnerability in the 88th percentile, which suggests a relatively higher likelihood of exploitation compared to other vulnerabilities.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | Yes |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The vulnerable versions of F5 BIG-IP products include:
BIG-IP Access Policy Manager: 13.1.0 - 13.1.5, 14.1.0 - 14.1.5, 15.1.0 - 15.1.10, 16.1.0 - 16.1.4, 17.1.0 - 17.1.1. BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager: 13.1.0 - 13.1.5, 14.1.0 - 14.1.5, 15.1.0 - 15.1.10, 16.1.0 - 16.1.4, 17.1.0 - 17.1.1. BIG-IP Carrier Grade NAT: 13.1.0 - 13.1.5, 14.1.0 - 14.1.5, 15.1.0 - 15.1.10, 16.1.0 - 16.1.4, 17.1.0 - 17.1.1. BIG-IP DDoS Hybrid Defender: 13.1.0 - 13.1.5, 14.1.0 - 14.1.5, 15.1.0 - 15.1.10, 16.1.0 - 16.1.4, 17.1.0 - 17.1.1. BIG-IP SSL Orchestrator: 13.1.0 - 13.1.5, 14.1.0 - 14.1.5, 15.1.0 - 15.1.10, 16.1.0 - 16.1.4, 17.1.0 - 17.1.1. BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager: 13.1.0 - 13.1.5, 14.1.0 - 14.1.5, 15.1.0 - 15.1.10, 16.1.0 - 16.1.4, 17.1.0 - 17.1.1. BIG-IP Policy Enforcement Manager: 13.1.0 - 13.1.5, 14.1.0 - 14.1.5, 15.1.0 - 15.1.10, 16.1.0 - 16.1.4, 17.1.0 - 17.1.1. BIG-IP Automation Toolchain: 13.1.0 - 13.1.5, 14.1.0 - 14.1.5, 15.1.0 - 15.1.10, 16.1.0 - 16.1.4, 17.1.0 - 17.1.1. BIG-IP Container Ingress Services: 13.1.0 - 13.1.5, 14.1.0 - 14.1.5, 15.1.0 - 15.1.10, 16.1.0 - 16.1.4, 17.1.0 - 17.1.1. BIG-IP Advanced Web Application Firewall: 13.1.0 - 13.1.5, 14.1.0 - 14.1.5, 15.1.0 - 15.1.10, 16.1.0 - 16.1.4, 17.1.0 - 17.1.1. BIG-IP Domain Name System: 13.1.0 - 13.1.5, 14.1.0 - 14.1.5, 15.1.0 - 15.1.10, 16.1.0 - 16.1.4, 17.1.0 - 17.1.1. BIG-IP Application Security Manager: 13.1.0 - 13.1.5, 14.1.0 - 14.1.5, 15.1.0 - 15.1.10, 16.1.0 - 16.1.4, 17.1.0 - 17.1.1. BIG-IP Analytics: 13.1.0 - 13.1.5, 14.1.0 - 14.1.5, 15.1.0 - 15.1.10, 16.1.0 - 16.1.4, 17.1.0 - 17.1.1. BIG-IP Application Acceleration Manager: 13.1.0 - 13.1.5, 14.1.0 - 14.1.5, 15.1.0 - 15.1.10, 16.1.0 - 16.1.4, 17.1.0 - 17.1.1. BIG-IP Application Visibility and Reporting: 13.1.0 - 13.1.5, 14.1.0 - 14.1.5, 15.1.0 - 15.1.10, 16.1.0 - 16.1.4, 17.1.0 - 17.1.1. BIG-IP Fraud Protection Services: 13.1.0 - 13.1.5, 14.1.0 - 14.1.5, 15.1.0 - 15.1.10, 16.1.0 - 16.1.4, 17.1.0 - 17.1.1. BIG-IP Global Traffic Manager: 13.1.0 - 13.1.5, 14.1.0 - 14.1.5, 15.1.0 - 15.1.10, 16.1.0 - 16.1.4, 17.1.0 - 17.1.1. BIG-IP Link Controller: 13.1.0 - 13.1.5, 14.1.0 - 14.1.5, 15.1.0 - 15.1.10, 16.1.0 - 16.1.4, 17.1.0 - 17.1.1. BIG-IP Webaccelerator: 13.1.0 - 13.1.5, 14.1.0 - 14.1.5, 15.1.0 - 15.1.10, 16.1.0 - 16.1.4, 17.1.0 - 17.1.1. BIG-IP Websafe: 13.1.0 - 13.1.5, 14.1.0 - 14.1.5, 15.1.0 - 15.1.10, 16.1.0 - 16.1.4, 17.1.0 - 17.1.1.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. The vendor has advised updating to patched versions to eliminate this vulnerability.
For more detailed guidance, organizations can consider engaging in penetration testing to validate the effectiveness of their mitigations.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for indicators of exploitation attempts, which may include unexpected SQL errors or unauthorized access to sensitive data. Behavioral anomalies consistent with SQL injection attacks should also be considered.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The emergence of CVE-2023-46748 highlights the importance of robust input validation and access controls in networked applications. Organizations should assess the security posture of their BIG-IP deployments and prioritize remediation efforts.
Security teams can learn from this vulnerability by ensuring comprehensive testing and validation of their applications against SQL injection attacks. Continuous monitoring and proactive vulnerability management strategies are essential to mitigate risks.
For further insights on vulnerability management, organizations can explore the vulnerability management program design to strengthen their defenses.
Furthermore, as attack vectors evolve, organizations should stay informed about the latest trends in vulnerability exploitation and apply necessary updates to their security strategies.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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