CVE-2020-5870 in BIG-IQ
Summary
by MITRE
In BIG-IQ 5.2.0-7.0.0, high availability (HA) synchronization mechanisms do not use any form of authentication for connecting to the peer.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-5870 affects BIG-IQ systems running versions 5.2.0 through 7.0.0, specifically targeting the high availability synchronization mechanisms that govern how cluster nodes communicate and maintain consistency. This represents a critical security flaw in the fundamental operational infrastructure of the system, where the absence of authentication protocols creates an exploitable vector for unauthorized entities to establish connections with peer systems. The flaw exists within the core HA synchronization framework that ensures data consistency and operational integrity across redundant systems, making it a significant concern for organizations relying on these platforms for critical infrastructure management.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the complete omission of authentication mechanisms during the HA synchronization process. When BIG-IQ systems operate in high availability configurations, they must establish secure connections between primary and secondary nodes to synchronize configuration data, operational states, and other critical information. The flaw manifests as the system failing to implement any form of authentication verification when establishing these peer connections, allowing any entity with network access to the synchronization ports to potentially connect and manipulate the synchronized data. This authentication gap creates a fundamental security weakness that directly violates established security principles for distributed system communications and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential system compromise and data integrity violations. An attacker who gains access to the network segment where HA synchronization occurs could potentially inject malicious configuration data, disrupt system operations, or even escalate privileges within the BIG-IQ environment. The synchronization mechanism typically handles sensitive configuration information including user credentials, system policies, and operational parameters that could provide attackers with extensive control over the affected systems. This vulnerability essentially provides an attack surface that allows for persistent access and potential privilege escalation, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that rely on BIG-IQ for network infrastructure management and security policy enforcement.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement network segmentation to isolate HA synchronization traffic and restrict access to synchronization ports to only authorized systems. The recommended mitigations include configuring firewalls to restrict access to HA synchronization ports, implementing network access controls that enforce authentication requirements, and considering the deployment of additional network monitoring to detect unauthorized connection attempts. Security teams should also review and validate existing network security controls to ensure that the lack of authentication in HA synchronization does not create additional attack vectors within the broader network infrastructure. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-306, which addresses missing authentication, and represents a clear violation of ATT&CK technique T1078.002 for valid accounts, as it allows unauthorized access through legitimate network pathways without proper authentication mechanisms.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing robust authentication mechanisms even in internal system communications, as the absence of such protections can create persistent security risks that remain undetected for extended periods. The flaw highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of all system components, particularly those involved in critical infrastructure operations and data synchronization processes. Organizations should consider conducting security assessments to identify similar authentication gaps in other systems and implement security controls that enforce authentication requirements for all inter-system communications, regardless of perceived trust levels between components. The remediation process should involve both immediate network-level controls and long-term architectural reviews to ensure that authentication mechanisms are properly implemented across all system synchronization and communication pathways.