CVE-2014-9342 in BIG-IP ASM
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the tree view (pl_tree.php) feature in Application Security Manager (ASM) in F5 BIG-IP 11.3.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML by accessing a crafted URL during automatic policy generation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2022
The CVE-2014-9342 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Application Security Manager (ASM) module of F5 BIG-IP version 11.3.0. This vulnerability specifically targets the tree view functionality implemented in the pl_tree.php component, which serves as a core element in the ASM's policy generation processes. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML content through carefully crafted URLs that trigger the automatic policy generation feature, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring any authentication or prior access to the system. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the tree view rendering process, creating an attack surface where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into web responses without proper sanitization.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL that contains specially formatted parameters or data that gets processed by the pl_tree.php script during automatic policy generation. When the ASM module processes these crafted inputs through its tree view functionality, the malicious content bypasses security controls and gets executed within the context of a victim's browser session. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws where untrusted data is improperly handled in web applications. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it leverages legitimate application functionality rather than exploiting system-level weaknesses, making detection more challenging for security monitoring systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, manipulate user interfaces, or redirect victims to malicious websites. In the context of the F5 BIG-IP environment, this vulnerability could compromise the security posture of organizations relying on ASM for application protection, potentially allowing attackers to bypass security controls and access protected applications. The automatic policy generation feature that triggers this vulnerability suggests that the flaw could be exploited during routine system operations, making it particularly dangerous for production environments where such automated processes are common. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers phishing with malicious attachments or links, as attackers could craft URLs that appear legitimate to users while executing malicious scripts.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding controls within the ASM module, particularly focusing on the pl_tree.php component. Network segmentation and web application firewalls should be configured to monitor and block suspicious URL patterns that could trigger this vulnerability. The most effective long-term solution involves applying the official F5 security patches that address the root cause of the input validation failure in the tree view functionality. Security teams should also conduct thorough code reviews of similar components within the ASM module to identify potential related vulnerabilities, and implement comprehensive monitoring for anomalous policy generation activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of validating all user inputs and properly encoding outputs in web applications, especially within security-critical modules that handle sensitive policy generation processes.