CVE-2022-23030 in BIG-IP Virtual Edition
Summary
by MITRE • 01/25/2022
On version 16.1.x before 16.1.2, 15.1.x before 15.1.4.1, 14.1.x before 14.1.4.5, and all versions of 13.1.x, when the BIG-IP Virtual Edition (VE) uses the ixlv driver (which is used in SR-IOV mode and requires Intel X710/XL710/XXV710 family of network adapters on the Hypervisor) and TCP Segmentation Offload configuration is enabled, undisclosed requests may cause an increase in CPU resource utilization. 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
This vulnerability affects F5 BIG-IP Virtual Edition systems running specific software versions when utilizing Intel X710/XL710/XXV710 family network adapters in SR-IOV mode with TCP Segmentation Offload enabled. The flaw manifests as a resource exhaustion condition where certain undisclosed network requests trigger excessive cpu utilization, potentially leading to denial of service scenarios. The vulnerability specifically impacts systems using the ixlv driver which is designed for high-performance network virtualization environments. This represents a significant security concern as it can be exploited to degrade system performance without requiring authentication or specialized privileges.
The technical root cause involves improper handling of network packet processing within the ixlv driver when TCP Segmentation Offload is active. When specific network requests are processed, the driver fails to properly manage memory allocation and processing cycles, resulting in sustained high cpu usage patterns. This behavior creates a resource exhaustion condition where legitimate system operations become impaired due to the excessive cpu consumption. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in virtualized environments where multiple virtual machines share underlying physical resources, as the increased cpu utilization can impact overall system performance and potentially affect other critical services.
Operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple performance degradation to potential service disruption and availability issues. Systems affected may experience reduced throughput, increased latency, and in severe cases complete service unavailability. The vulnerability affects multiple major versions of the BIG-IP software including 16.1.x before 16.1.2, 15.1.x before 15.1.4.1, 14.1.x before 14.1.4.5, and all 13.1.x versions, indicating a widespread issue affecting critical network infrastructure components. Organizations relying on these systems for load balancing, application delivery, or network security functions face significant risk of operational disruption.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate software updates to versions 16.1.2, 15.1.4.1, 14.1.4.5, or later releases that contain the necessary patches. Organizations should also consider temporarily disabling TCP Segmentation Offload on affected systems until patches can be deployed. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual cpu utilization patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-400 which addresses unchecked resource consumption, and may map to ATT&CK techniques involving resource exhaustion and denial of service operations. System administrators should implement comprehensive testing procedures before applying patches to ensure continued system stability and functionality.