CVE-2017-6164 in BIG-IP
Summary
by MITRE
In F5 BIG-IP LTM, AAM, AFM, Analytics, APM, ASM, DNS, Edge Gateway, GTM, Link Controller, PEM, WebAccelerator and WebSafe software version 13.0.0, 12.0.0 - 12.1.2, 11.6.0 - 11.6.1 and 11.5.0 - 11.5.4, in some circumstances, Traffic Management Microkernel (TMM) does not properly handle certain malformed TLS1.2 records, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial-of-service (DoS) or possible remote command execution on the BIG-IP system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6164 represents a critical security flaw within F5 BIG-IP systems that affects multiple modules including Local Traffic Manager AAM AFM Analytics APM ASM DNS Edge Gateway GTM Link Controller PEM WebAccelerator and WebSafe. This issue stems from the Traffic Management Microkernel TMM component which fails to properly validate malformed TLS 1.2 records, creating a potential vector for both denial-of-service attacks and remote command execution. The vulnerability impacts specific software versions including 13.0.0 12.0.0 through 12.1.2 11.6.0 through 11.6.1 and 11.5.0 through 11.5.4, making it a widespread concern across multiple F5 product lines. The technical nature of this flaw allows remote attackers to exploit malformed TLS records which can trigger system instability and potentially enable arbitrary code execution on affected systems. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-121 heap-based buffer overflow and CWE-122 stack-based buffer overflow categories within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The operational impact of CVE-2017-6164 extends beyond simple service disruption as the potential for remote command execution places organizations at significant risk of unauthorized system access and data compromise. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to cause complete system outages through denial-of-service conditions or escalate privileges to execute malicious commands on the BIG-IP appliance. From an ATT&CK framework perspective this vulnerability aligns with techniques such as T1059 command and scripting interpreter and T1498 network denial of service. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that F5 BIG-IP systems typically serve as critical network infrastructure components including load balancing application delivery and security enforcement points. Organizations running affected versions face potential exposure to sophisticated attack campaigns targeting their network traffic management capabilities. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access or local network privileges to initiate attacks, making it particularly dangerous in environments where such systems are exposed to untrusted network traffic. Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of F5's official patches and updates as well as network segmentation to limit exposure. Additionally implementing proper monitoring and intrusion detection systems can help identify exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider disabling unnecessary TLS services and implementing strict access controls to reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches for enterprise network infrastructure components and highlights the potential for seemingly minor protocol handling flaws to result in catastrophic system compromise.