CVE-2022-25946 in BIG-IP Advanced WAF
Summary
by MITRE • 05/05/2022
On all versions of 16.1.x, 15.1.x, 14.1.x, 13.1.x, 12.1.x, and 11.6.x of F5 BIG-IP Advanced WAF, ASM, and ASM, and F5 BIG-IP Guided Configuration (GC) all versions prior to 9.0, when running in Appliance mode, an authenticated attacker with Administrator role privilege may be able to bypass Appliance mode restrictions due to a missing integrity check in F5 BIG-IP Guided Configuration. Note: Software versions which have reached End of Technical Support (EoTS) are not evaluated
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-25946 represents a critical security flaw affecting multiple versions of F5 BIG-IP Advanced WAF, ASM, and Guided Configuration products. This issue specifically impacts appliances running in appliance mode and affects versions 16.1.x, 15.1.x, 14.1.x, 13.1.x, 12.1.x, and 11.6.x, with all versions prior to 9.0 being susceptible. The vulnerability stems from a missing integrity check within the F5 BIG-IP Guided Configuration component, creating a significant bypass opportunity for authenticated attackers who possess administrator privileges.
The technical flaw manifests through the absence of proper integrity validation mechanisms within the guided configuration process. When an authenticated attacker with administrator-level access attempts to interact with the appliance mode restrictions, the system fails to properly verify the integrity of configuration operations. This missing validation allows the attacker to circumvent intended security controls and operational boundaries that should normally be enforced by the appliance mode functionality. The vulnerability operates at the configuration layer, where the system should validate that all changes adhere to established security policies and operational constraints before allowing them to take effect.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally undermines the security posture of F5 BIG-IP appliances in appliance mode. An attacker with administrator privileges can exploit this weakness to bypass restrictions that are designed to prevent unauthorized modifications to critical system configurations. This capability enables the attacker to potentially modify security policies, access restricted functionality, and compromise the integrity of the entire appliance environment. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects multiple major product lines and spans several years of releases, indicating a persistent flaw in the implementation of appliance mode security controls.
Organizations utilizing affected F5 BIG-IP products should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability. The primary recommendation involves upgrading to versions that have been patched to include proper integrity checks within the guided configuration process. Additionally, network administrators should conduct thorough audits of their appliance mode configurations to identify any unauthorized changes that may have occurred due to this vulnerability. Implementing strict access controls and monitoring for unusual configuration activities can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-345: Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity, which addresses the importance of validating data integrity before processing. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence within network infrastructure, specifically targeting the T1078 and T1566 tactics that involve gaining and maintaining access to systems through legitimate credentials.
Security teams should also consider implementing additional monitoring controls to detect unauthorized configuration changes in their F5 BIG-IP environments. The absence of integrity checks creates a window of opportunity for attackers to modify system behavior without detection, making continuous monitoring of configuration changes essential for maintaining security posture. Organizations should establish baseline configurations and implement automated change detection mechanisms to identify any deviations that could indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. The remediation process should include not only software updates but also comprehensive testing to ensure that the integrity checks are functioning correctly and that no existing malicious modifications have been introduced through exploitation of this vulnerability.