CVE-2017-6140 in BIG-IP
Summary
by MITRE
On the BIG-IP 2000s, 2200s, 4000s, 4200v, i5600, i5800, i7600, i7800, i10600,i10800, and VIPRION 4450 blades, running version 11.5.0, 11.5.1, 11.5.2, 11.5.3, 11.5.4, 11.6.0, 11.6.1, 12.0.0, 12.1.0, 12.1.1 or 12.1.2 of BIG-IP LTM, AAM, AFM, Analytics, ASM, DNS, GTM or PEM, an undisclosed sequence of packets sent to Virtual Servers with client or server SSL profiles may cause disruption of data plane services.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6140 affects F5 Networks BIG-IP load balancing and application delivery controllers across multiple hardware platforms including 2000s, 2200s, 4000s, 4200v, i5600, i5800, i7600, i7800, i10600, i10800, and VIPRION 4450 blades. This issue specifically impacts systems running BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager LTM, Application Acceleration Manager AAM, Advanced Firewall Manager AFM, Analytics, Application Security Manager ASM, DNS, Global Traffic Manager GTM, or Performance Enhancement Manager PEM modules in versions 11.5.0 through 12.1.2. The vulnerability represents a denial of service condition that can be triggered by sending a specific sequence of packets to virtual servers configured with either client or server SSL profiles. This flaw falls under the category of unspecified packet processing issues that can lead to service disruption rather than complete system compromise.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of SSL protocol sequences within the BIG-IP system's data plane processing. When malformed or specially crafted packets are received by virtual servers configured with SSL profiles, the system's packet processing engine fails to properly validate or handle these inputs, resulting in service disruption. The vulnerability is classified as a denial of service condition where legitimate traffic cannot be properly processed, effectively rendering the affected virtual servers unavailable to handle client requests. This type of vulnerability can be categorized under CWE-400 as an unspecified resource management error, though the specific mechanism involves SSL packet processing rather than general resource exhaustion.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-6140 extends beyond simple service interruption to potentially affect business continuity and customer experience. Organizations relying on F5 BIG-IP appliances for critical traffic management and application delivery may experience significant downtime when this vulnerability is exploited. The affected systems include various hardware platforms that serve as core infrastructure components in enterprise networks, cloud deployments, and service provider environments. The vulnerability's potential for disruption means that even a single exploited virtual server could impact multiple applications or services that depend on the affected BIG-IP appliance. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to perform sustained denial of service attacks against specific virtual servers, making it particularly concerning for organizations that depend on consistent availability of their network services.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of affected systems to the latest available versions from F5 Networks. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious traffic. Monitoring for unusual packet patterns or connection attempts to SSL virtual servers can help detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service, where adversaries leverage system vulnerabilities to disrupt services. Security teams should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify the specific packet sequences associated with this vulnerability. Additionally, maintaining detailed network monitoring and logging capabilities will help in identifying and analyzing any exploitation attempts, as well as providing evidence for forensic analysis if incidents occur. Organizations should prioritize patch management procedures and conduct regular vulnerability assessments to ensure all BIG-IP systems remain protected against similar threats.