CVE-2019-6658 in BIG-IP AFM
Summary
by MITRE
On BIG-IP AFM 15.0.0-15.0.1, 14.0.0-14.1.2, 13.1.0-13.1.3.1, and 12.1.0-12.1.5, a vulnerability in the AFM configuration utility may allow any authenticated BIG-IP user to run an SQL injection attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-6658 affects F5 BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager (AFM) implementations across multiple version ranges including 15.0.0 through 15.0.1, 14.0.0 through 14.1.2, 13.1.0 through 13.1.3.1, and 12.1.0 through 12.1.5. This represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of the firewall management interface by allowing authenticated users to exploit a SQL injection vulnerability within the AFM configuration utility. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into database queries, creating an exploitable pathway for malicious actors who have already gained legitimate access to the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the AFM configuration utility where user inputs are directly concatenated into SQL query strings without proper sanitization or parameterization. When an authenticated user submits malicious input through the firewall management interface, the system processes this input without adequate validation, allowing SQL injection payloads to be executed against the underlying database. This flaw operates at the application layer and leverages the principle of insufficient input validation as classified under CWE-20. The vulnerability specifically targets the AFM component of F5's BIG-IP platform, which manages network traffic filtering and access control policies, making it particularly dangerous as it could potentially allow attackers to manipulate firewall rules, access sensitive network data, or extract configuration information from the system.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-6658 extends beyond simple data manipulation as it provides a pathway for authenticated attackers to escalate their privileges and compromise the entire firewall management infrastructure. Since any authenticated user can exploit this vulnerability, it creates a significant risk for organizations where user access controls may be insufficiently enforced or where privileged accounts are compromised. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that AFM manages critical network security policies and access controls, meaning successful exploitation could allow attackers to modify firewall rules, bypass security controls, or gain unauthorized access to protected network segments. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which covers valid accounts as a means of gaining access to systems, and T1566.001 which involves the exploitation of vulnerabilities in software applications. Organizations may face severe consequences including unauthorized network access, data exfiltration, and disruption of security controls that protect their network infrastructure.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest F5 security patches and hotfixes specifically addressing CVE-2019-6658, which were released by F5 as part of their regular security advisory process. Network segmentation should be enhanced to limit access to AFM interfaces, and privileged account access should be strictly controlled using principles of least privilege and multi-factor authentication. Regular security audits should be conducted to verify that input validation mechanisms are properly implemented and that no unauthorized modifications have occurred to the firewall configuration. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems that can monitor for SQL injection attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring to detect anomalous query patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security training for administrators should emphasize the importance of maintaining secure coding practices and the risks associated with insufficient input validation in network management applications.