CVE-2014-4024 in BIG-IP
Summary
by MITRE
SSL virtual servers in F5 BIG-IP systems 10.x before 10.2.4 HF9, 11.x before 11.2.1 HF12, 11.3.0 before HF10, 11.4.0 before HF8, 11.4.1 before HF5, 11.5.0 before HF5, and 11.5.1 before HF5, when used with third-party Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) accelerator cards, might allow remote attackers to have unspecified impact via a timing side-channel attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4024 affects F5 BIG-IP systems operating within SSL virtual server configurations that utilize third-party SSL accelerator cards. This security flaw represents a significant concern for organizations relying on these systems for secure communications, as it exposes the platform to potential exploitation through timing side-channel attacks. The affected versions span multiple release branches including 10.x through 11.5.1, with specific hotfix requirements established for each major version to address the identified weakness. The vulnerability specifically impacts systems where SSL virtual servers are configured to work in conjunction with external hardware SSL acceleration devices, creating an attack surface that adversaries can exploit for unauthorized access or data compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the way F5 BIG-IP systems handle cryptographic operations when processing SSL/TLS connections through third-party accelerator cards. Timing side-channel attacks exploit variations in processing time that occur during cryptographic computations, allowing attackers to infer sensitive information about the encryption keys or plaintext data being processed. These timing differences can reveal patterns in the cryptographic operations that are typically hidden through proper implementation practices. The vulnerability manifests when the system's response times vary predictably based on the input data, creating measurable differences that can be analyzed to extract confidential information. This type of attack falls under the category of information leakage through timing variations and represents a fundamental weakness in the cryptographic implementation's resistance to side-channel analysis.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-4024 extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable attackers to perform sophisticated reconnaissance and potentially compromise entire cryptographic systems. Remote attackers capable of observing timing variations in SSL processing can leverage this information to perform key recovery attacks or decrypt sensitive communications, particularly when the system processes predictable or structured data. The vulnerability affects organizations using F5 BIG-IP systems in critical infrastructure environments where SSL/TLS security is paramount, including financial services, healthcare organizations, and government agencies. The unspecified impact mentioned in the CVE description reflects the potential severity that can range from information disclosure to complete system compromise, depending on the specific implementation and the nature of the data being protected. Organizations with systems running vulnerable versions may experience unauthorized access to encrypted communications, leading to potential data breaches and compliance violations that could result in significant financial and reputational damage.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of the vendor-provided hotfixes and patches for each affected version range, as well as comprehensive system updates to ensure all SSL virtual server configurations are properly secured. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected F5 BIG-IP versions and prioritize remediation efforts based on risk exposure. The implementation of additional security controls such as network segmentation, monitoring for unusual timing patterns, and regular cryptographic audits can provide additional layers of protection. According to CWE guidelines, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic weaknesses and specifically mentions timing attacks as a method for compromising cryptographic systems. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access and information gathering through side-channel attacks, potentially enabling more sophisticated exploitation phases. Organizations should also consider implementing robust key management practices and regularly reviewing their cryptographic implementations to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future deployments.