CVE-2022-23014 in BIG-IP APM
Summary
by MITRE • 01/25/2022
On versions 16.1.x before 16.1.2 and 15.1.x before 15.1.4.1, when BIG-IP APM portal access is configured on a virtual server, undisclosed requests can cause the Traffic Management Microkernel (TMM) to terminate. Note: Software versions which have reached End of Technical Support (EoTS) are not evaluated.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/28/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2022-23014 represents a critical denial of service weakness within F5 Networks BIG-IP Application Visibility and Reporting Manager (APM) components. This issue specifically affects systems running BIG-IP software versions 16.1.x prior to 16.1.2 and 15.1.x prior to 15.1.4.1, where the Traffic Management Microkernel (TMM) becomes vulnerable to termination when processing certain portal access configurations on virtual servers. The flaw manifests when undisclosed requests are processed through the APM portal access functionality, leading to unexpected system termination that disrupts normal network operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and error handling within the TMM component responsible for processing portal access requests. When configured APM portal access is enabled on virtual servers, the system fails to properly sanitize or handle specific request patterns that trigger an uncontrolled termination of the TMM process. This represents a classic buffer over-read or improper state management issue that falls under CWE-20, which encompasses weaknesses related to improper input validation. The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly benign portal access configurations can become attack vectors when combined with insufficient request processing safeguards.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise network availability and business continuity for organizations relying on F5 BIG-IP systems. When the TMM terminates unexpectedly, it affects all virtual servers configured with APM portal access, potentially disrupting user authentication, session management, and application access for multiple services simultaneously. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network disruption through service availability attacks, and represents a significant concern for organizations operating critical infrastructure where high availability is paramount. The undisclosed nature of the specific request patterns that trigger this behavior makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without prior knowledge of the precise attack vectors.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching to versions 16.1.2 or 15.1.4.1, as these releases contain the necessary fixes to prevent the TMM termination issue. Network administrators should also implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual TMM termination patterns and consider temporarily disabling APM portal access configurations until patches are deployed. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and demonstrates how configuration-based features can introduce unexpected attack surfaces when not properly validated. Security teams should also conduct thorough assessments of their BIG-IP deployments to identify all virtual servers with APM portal access enabled and evaluate the potential impact of this vulnerability on their specific network architectures.