CVE-2022-41617 in BIG-IP Advanced WAF
Summary
by MITRE • 10/20/2022
In versions 16.1.x before 16.1.3.1, 15.1.x before 15.1.6.1, 14.1.x before 14.1.5.1, and 13.1.x before 13.1.5.1, When the Advanced WAF / ASM module is provisioned, an authenticated remote code execution vulnerability exists in the BIG-IP iControl REST interface.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/20/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-41617 represents a critical authenticated remote code execution flaw within F5 Networks BIG-IP systems that affects multiple software versions including 16.1.x before 16.1.3.1, 15.1.x before 15.1.6.1, 14.1.x before 14.1.5.1, and 13.1.x before 13.1.5.1. This vulnerability specifically targets the Advanced WAF/ASM module when provisioned within the BIG-IP environment, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on these network security appliances. The issue stems from improper input validation within the iControl REST interface, which serves as the primary management interface for BIG-IP systems and provides programmatic access to configuration and operational functions through a RESTful API.
The technical flaw manifests through a path traversal vulnerability in the iControl REST interface that allows authenticated attackers to exploit a crafted request structure to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system. When the Advanced WAF/ASM module is enabled, the system processes user-supplied parameters through the REST API endpoint without sufficient sanitization or validation, creating an attack surface where malicious inputs can be interpreted as command sequences rather than benign data. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the legitimate authentication mechanisms of the BIG-IP system, making detection more challenging as the malicious activity appears to originate from legitimate administrative processes. The issue is classified under CWE-22 Path Traversal and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, where adversaries execute commands on compromised systems through legitimate administrative interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and lateral movement within network environments. Attackers who gain access through this vulnerability can potentially escalate privileges, extract sensitive configuration data, modify security policies, and establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure. The BIG-IP system serves as a critical network security component often positioned at network perimeters, making successful exploitation particularly dangerous as it can provide attackers with privileged access to protect network traffic and potentially bypass other security controls. Organizations using affected versions may experience unauthorized data exfiltration, service disruption, and complete loss of network security enforcement capabilities, with the attack surface expanding significantly when considering that these systems often manage critical network access controls and application delivery functions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-41617 should prioritize immediate patch deployment to the affected software versions, with administrators applying the vendor-provided security updates that address the input validation flaws in the iControl REST interface. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit the attack surface, including restricting direct access to the iControl REST interface from external networks and implementing strict firewall rules that only permit necessary administrative traffic. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous API access patterns and command execution attempts within their BIG-IP environments, as well as conducting thorough security assessments of their current BIG-IP configurations to identify and remediate any unnecessary module activations. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of patches in non-production environments before deployment to ensure compatibility with existing network configurations and business applications, while also maintaining detailed audit trails of all administrative activities to facilitate incident response and forensic analysis.