CVE-2014-6031 in BIG-IP
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the mcpq daemon in F5 BIG-IP systems 10.x before 10.2.4 HF12, 11.x before 11.2.1 HF15, 11.3.x, 11.4.x before 11.4.1 HF9, 11.5.x before 11.5.2 HF1, and 11.6.0 before HF4, and Enterprise Manager 2.1.0 through 2.3.0 and 3.x before 3.1.1 HF5 allows remote authenticated administrators to cause a denial of service via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/14/2019
The CVE-2014-6031 vulnerability represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the mcpq daemon component of F5 BIG-IP systems, affecting multiple version branches including 10.x through 11.6.0 and Enterprise Manager 2.1.0 through 3.x. This vulnerability specifically targets the mcpq daemon which is responsible for message queuing and communication within the BIG-IP architecture, making it a significant attack surface for malicious actors. The flaw exists in the handling of input data within the daemon's memory management routines, creating conditions where maliciously crafted input can exceed allocated buffer boundaries. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only authenticated administrative access, meaning that an attacker with legitimate administrative credentials could exploit this flaw to cause system-wide denial of service. The affected versions span several major release lines, indicating a widespread issue that would impact organizations relying on F5 BIG-IP load balancers and application delivery controllers.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs within the mcpq daemon's processing of network messages or configuration data, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to write data beyond the allocated memory space. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and is classified as a memory safety error that can lead to arbitrary code execution or system instability. The attack vector involves authenticated administrators sending specially crafted requests to the mcpq daemon through the management interface, which then processes these inputs without proper validation. When the buffer overflow occurs, it can corrupt adjacent memory locations, potentially leading to application crashes, system hangs, or in more severe cases, allowing for privilege escalation. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the daemon's critical role in system operations, as the mcpq service is essential for maintaining communication between different components of the BIG-IP system.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-6031 extends beyond simple denial of service, as it can severely compromise the availability and reliability of network infrastructure services. Organizations utilizing affected F5 BIG-IP systems could experience complete service outages when attackers exploit this vulnerability, particularly in environments where high availability and continuous service delivery are paramount. The vulnerability's presence in multiple version streams means that organizations across different F5 product lines and support releases would need to implement remediation measures, creating a significant operational burden for security teams. Additionally, the requirement for authenticated access means that insider threats or compromised administrative accounts pose a particular risk, as attackers could leverage legitimate credentials to exploit the system. The impact is further compounded by the fact that BIG-IP systems often serve as critical infrastructure components in enterprise networks, making any disruption potentially catastrophic for business operations and service availability.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of all impacted systems, with particular attention to the specific hotfix releases mentioned in the CVE description. The recommended mitigation strategy involves applying the vendor-provided security patches for each affected version branch, including HF12 for 10.x systems, HF15 for 11.2.1, and the corresponding hotfixes for all other affected releases. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit administrative access to only essential personnel, reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation. Monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual administrative activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly around the mcpq daemon's communication ports. Security teams should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify malicious input patterns targeting the vulnerable daemon. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation," and T1499, covering "Endpoint Denial of Service," making it a significant concern for organizations following MITRE ATT&CK framework assessments. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any additional systems that may be running the vulnerable mcpq daemon and ensure comprehensive patch management across their entire infrastructure portfolio.