CVE-2012-3000 in BIG-IP
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in sam/admin/reports/php/saveSettings.php in the (1) APM WebGUI in F5 BIG-IP LTM, GTM, ASM, Link Controller, PSM, APM, Edge Gateway, and Analytics and (2) AVR WebGUI in WebAccelerator and WOM 11.2.x before 11.2.0-HF3 and 11.2.x before 11.2.1-HF3 allow remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the defaultQuery parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2021
The CVE-2012-3000 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting multiple F5 BIG-IP products including Local Traffic Manager, Global Traffic Manager, Application Security Manager, Link Controller, Protocol Security Manager, Application Performance Manager, Edge Gateway, Analytics, WebAccelerator, and Web Object Manager. This vulnerability specifically targets the administrative web interfaces of these systems, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on F5's network security and application delivery solutions. The flaw exists in the saveSettings.php script within the sam/admin/reports/php directory structure, which is part of the web-based management interfaces used by administrators to configure system settings and generate reports.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data within the defaultQuery parameter. When authenticated users access the administrative web interfaces, the system fails to properly escape or validate the input received through this parameter, allowing maliciously crafted SQL commands to be executed within the database context. This weakness directly maps to CWE-89, which classifies SQL injection vulnerabilities as a critical weakness in software that permits arbitrary SQL command execution. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only authenticated access, meaning that an attacker who has obtained legitimate administrative credentials could exploit this flaw to gain deeper access to the underlying database systems.
From an operational perspective, the impact of CVE-2012-3000 extends beyond simple data theft to include complete database compromise and potential system infiltration. An attacker with authenticated access could extract sensitive information including user credentials, system configurations, application data, and potentially escalate privileges to gain unauthorized access to the underlying operating system. The vulnerability affects multiple F5 product lines, amplifying the potential impact across different network security domains including application security, traffic management, and web acceleration. This creates a widespread risk for organizations that deploy multiple F5 products, as exploitation of one vulnerable component could provide a foothold for attacking other interconnected systems.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to credential access and privilege escalation. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to perform data extraction, modify system configurations, or establish persistence within the network infrastructure. Organizations implementing F5 BIG-IP solutions should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader security posture assessment, especially when evaluating their administrative access controls and database security measures. The recommended mitigation strategy involves applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates, specifically the hotfixes for versions 11.2.x before HF3 and 11.2.1-HF3, while also implementing additional security controls such as network segmentation, privileged access management, and regular security assessments. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring and intrusion detection systems to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain comprehensive audit trails for security incident response.