CVE-2008-0265 in BIG-IP
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the Search function in the web management interface in F5 BIG-IP 9.4.3 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the SearchString parameter to (1) list_system.jsp, (2) list_pktfilter.jsp, (3) list_ltm.jsp, (4) resources_audit.jsp, and (5) list_asm.jsp in tmui/Control/jspmap/tmui/system/log/; and (6) list.jsp in certain directories.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0265 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness affecting the F5 BIG-IP 9.4.3 web management interface. This flaw resides within the search functionality of the system's graphical user interface, specifically targeting the SearchString parameter that processes user input for various administrative pages. The affected components include multiple jsp files such as list_system.jsp, list_pktfilter.jsp, list_ltm.jsp, resources_audit.jsp, list_asm.jsp within the tmui/Control/jspmap/tmui/system/log/ directory structure, as well as list.jsp in several other directories. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and demonstrates the classic characteristics of CWE-79, which defines cross-site scripting as a code injection vulnerability that allows attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers. This weakness specifically aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which involves the use of malicious web content to compromise systems through client-side exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the search function of the F5 BIG-IP management interface. When administrators or authorized users navigate to the affected pages and submit search queries through the SearchString parameter, the application fails to properly sanitize or encode the input before rendering it back to the user's browser. This creates an environment where malicious actors can inject arbitrary HTML or JavaScript code that executes in the context of the victim's browser session. The impact extends across multiple administrative functions since the vulnerability affects various logging and monitoring pages, providing attackers with broad access to system information and potentially enabling further exploitation. The attack vector is entirely remote, requiring no local access or authentication, making it particularly dangerous for systems with exposed management interfaces.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-0265 is severe and multifaceted, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal administrative credentials, and gain unauthorized access to sensitive system information. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to inject malicious scripts that capture user sessions, redirect traffic to malicious sites, or even execute arbitrary commands on the affected system. The vulnerability's presence in logging and audit pages is particularly concerning since these interfaces often contain sensitive operational data about network traffic, security policies, and system configurations. The attack surface is expanded by the fact that the vulnerability affects multiple pages within the same administrative interface, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges or access different system components through a single successful exploitation. This weakness directly compromises the integrity and confidentiality of the administrative interface, undermining the security posture of the entire F5 BIG-IP system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-0265 should prioritize immediate patching and configuration hardening measures. Organizations must apply the official F5 security patches released for version 9.4.3 to address the root cause of the vulnerability. Until patches are deployed, administrators should implement network-level restrictions to limit access to the management interface, ensuring that only trusted IP addresses can reach the tmui/Control/jspmap/tmui/system/log/ directory structure. Input validation should be strengthened through the implementation of strict parameter filtering and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious code injection. Network segmentation and the principle of least privilege should be enforced to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their web applications to identify similar vulnerabilities and implement comprehensive monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding practices as outlined in OWASP Top 10 and other industry security frameworks, emphasizing that all user-supplied data must be treated as untrusted and properly validated before processing or display.