CVE-2014-8730 in BIG-IP Application Acceleration Manager
Summary
by MITRE
The SSL profiles component in F5 BIG-IP LTM, APM, and ASM 10.0.0 through 10.2.4 and 11.0.0 through 11.5.1, AAM 11.4.0 through 11.5.1, AFM 11.3.0 through 11.5.1, Analytics 11.0.0 through 11.5.1, Edge Gateway, WebAccelerator, and WOM 10.1.0 through 10.2.4 and 11.0.0 through 11.3.0, PEM 11.3.0 through 11.6.0, and PSM 10.0.0 through 10.2.4 and 11.0.0 through 11.4.1 and BIG-IQ Cloud and Security 4.0.0 through 4.4.0 and Device 4.2.0 through 4.4.0, when using TLS 1.x before TLS 1.2, does not properly check CBC padding bytes when terminating connections, which makes it easier for man-in-the-middle attackers to obtain cleartext data via a padding-oracle attack, a variant of CVE-2014-3566 (aka POODLE). NOTE: the scope of this identifier is limited to the F5 implementation only. Other vulnerable implementations should receive their own CVE ID, since this is not a vulnerability within the design of TLS 1.x itself.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-8730 represents a critical cryptographic flaw within the SSL profiles component of various F5 BIG-IP products including Local Traffic Manager APM ASM and other modules. This weakness specifically affects versions ranging from 10.0.0 through 10.2.4 and 11.0.0 through 11.5.1 across multiple F5 product lines including AAM AFM Analytics Edge Gateway WebAccelerator WOM PEM and PSM. The flaw manifests when these systems process TLS 1.x connections before TLS 1.2 implementation, creating an exploitable condition that directly relates to the broader POODLE vulnerability family. The vulnerability stems from improper validation of CBC padding bytes during SSL termination processes, which creates a padding-oracle attack vector that significantly weakens the security posture of affected systems.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129 which describes improper validation of padding bytes in cryptographic protocols, and more specifically connects to the broader category of padding oracle attacks that have been extensively documented in cybersecurity literature. When systems fail to properly validate padding bytes in CBC mode encryption, attackers can exploit the timing variations in error responses to gradually decrypt ciphertext data without possessing the encryption keys. This particular implementation flaw in F5 products creates a scenario where man-in-the-middle attackers can leverage the padding-oracle vulnerability to recover cleartext data from encrypted communications. The attack mechanism operates through carefully crafted requests that cause the system to respond differently based on whether padding validation succeeds or fails, allowing attackers to determine the correct padding bytes through iterative testing.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it fundamentally undermines the confidentiality guarantees that SSL/TLS protocols are designed to provide. Systems affected by this vulnerability become susceptible to passive eavesdropping attacks where sensitive information including user credentials session tokens and business data can be extracted from encrypted communications. The vulnerability's scope is particularly concerning because it affects multiple F5 product lines and versions, creating widespread exposure across enterprise networks that utilize these solutions for web application security and traffic management. Organizations running affected F5 BIG-IP systems face significant risk of data breaches and compliance violations, especially in environments handling sensitive information such as financial data healthcare records or personally identifiable information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-8730 require immediate implementation of several security controls including disabling weak SSL/TLS versions and enforcing the use of TLS 1.2 or higher protocols across all affected systems. Organizations should also implement proper cryptographic padding validation mechanisms and ensure that all F5 BIG-IP appliances are updated to patched versions that address the specific padding validation flaw. Network segmentation and monitoring controls should be deployed to detect and alert on suspicious padding oracle attack patterns, while also implementing strict access controls and regular security assessments to identify additional vulnerabilities. The remediation process should also include comprehensive testing of patched systems to ensure that the fix does not introduce compatibility issues with existing applications and services. Security teams must also consider implementing additional layers of protection including web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to provide defense-in-depth against potential exploitation attempts.