CVE-2020-5892 in BIG-IP APM
Summary
by MITRE
In versions 7.1.5-7.1.8, the BIG-IP Edge Client components in BIG-IP APM, Edge Gateway, and FirePass legacy allow attackers to obtain the full session ID from process memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/14/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-5892 affects BIG-IP APM Edge Client components in versions 7.1.5 through 7.1.8, representing a critical information disclosure flaw that enables attackers to extract complete session identifiers from process memory. This vulnerability specifically impacts the BIG-IP Edge Gateway and FirePass legacy systems, which are integral components of F5 Networks' application delivery and security infrastructure. The flaw stems from improper memory handling within the Edge Client processes, where session identifiers are stored in a manner that makes them accessible to unauthorized parties through memory inspection techniques.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the insecure storage and management of session tokens within the memory space of running processes. When the BIG-IP Edge Client components operate, they maintain session state information in memory structures that are not properly protected or sanitized. Attackers can leverage various memory inspection methods to access these stored session identifiers, effectively compromising the authentication state of active connections. This represents a direct violation of secure session management principles and undermines the fundamental security model of the affected systems. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses improper exposure of sensitive information, and specifically relates to CWE-312, focusing on the exposure of sensitive data in memory.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-5892 is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking attacks against authenticated users of the affected BIG-IP systems. Once an attacker obtains a valid session ID, they can impersonate legitimate users and gain unauthorized access to protected applications and resources. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations relying on BIG-IP APM for application access management, as it undermines the security controls designed to protect user sessions. The attack surface extends to any user authenticated through the affected Edge Client components, potentially affecting enterprise applications, web portals, and internal systems that depend on these security controls. This vulnerability creates a persistent threat that can be exploited across multiple sessions and users, amplifying its potential impact on organizational security posture.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of the BIG-IP software, which address the memory handling issues in the Edge Client components. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual memory access patterns or suspicious session activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of additional authentication layers, such as multi-factor authentication, can provide defense-in-depth against session hijacking attacks. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify systems running the affected versions and ensure proper patch management protocols are in place. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage and T1566 for credential access, highlighting the need for comprehensive security controls that address both network-level and application-level threats. Organizations should also consider implementing memory protection mechanisms and regular security scanning to detect similar vulnerabilities in their infrastructure components.