CVE-2023-22326 in BIG-IP
Summary
by MITRE • 02/01/2023
In BIG-IP versions 17.0.x before 17.0.0.2, 16.1.x before 16.1.3.3, 15.1.x before 15.1.8.1, 14.1.x before 14.1.5.3, and all versions of 13.1.x, and all versions of BIG-IQ 8.x and 7.1.x, incorrect permission assignment vulnerabilities exist in the iControl REST and TMOS shell (tmsh) dig command which may allow an authenticated attacker with resource administrator or administrator role privileges to view sensitive information. Note: Software versions which have reached End of Technical Support (EoTS) are not evaluated.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/01/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-22326 represents a critical permission assignment flaw within F5 Networks BIG-IP and BIG-IQ platforms that affects multiple version branches. This issue resides in the iControl REST and TMOS shell components, specifically within the dig command functionality, where improper access controls have been discovered. The vulnerability impacts organizations utilizing affected versions of the BIG-IP application delivery controller and BIG-IQ centralized management systems, creating a significant risk for enterprises that rely on these platforms for network security and application delivery. The flaw allows authenticated attackers who possess resource administrator or administrator role privileges to access sensitive information that should be restricted to authorized personnel only. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and could enable attackers to escalate their access within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability has been classified under CWE-284 which specifically addresses improper access control issues, making it particularly concerning for organizations operating in regulated environments where strict access controls are mandated. The affected versions span across multiple major releases including 17.0.x, 16.1.x, 15.1.x, 14.1.x, and all versions of 13.1.x, along with BIG-IQ versions 8.x and 7.1.x, indicating a widespread impact across the F5 product ecosystem.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the dig command functionality within the iControl REST and TMOS shell interfaces, where the system fails to properly validate access permissions for sensitive data retrieval. When an authenticated attacker with resource administrator or administrator privileges executes the dig command, they can bypass intended access restrictions and obtain information that should remain confidential. This flaw essentially allows for information disclosure attacks where attackers can extract sensitive configuration data, network mappings, or other critical information that could aid in further exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates a clear breakdown in the authorization mechanisms that should protect sensitive system information within the BIG-IP and BIG-IQ platforms. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability could potentially gain insights into network topology, service configurations, or other operational details that would normally be restricted to privileged users. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as this data could be used to plan more sophisticated attacks against the organization's infrastructure. The vulnerability's presence in both iControl REST and TMOS shell interfaces indicates that the flaw is systemic rather than isolated to a single component, making it more challenging to mitigate and requiring comprehensive remediation across multiple attack surfaces.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-22326 is substantial for organizations relying on F5 BIG-IP and BIG-IQ systems, as it creates opportunities for unauthorized information access that could lead to broader security compromises. Organizations may experience increased risk of targeted attacks, as the leaked information could provide attackers with detailed knowledge of network architecture and service configurations. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality aspect of the CIA triad and could potentially enable attackers to identify additional attack vectors or targets within the network infrastructure. The affected systems may also face compliance violations in regulated environments where strict data protection requirements exist, particularly in sectors such as financial services, healthcare, or government agencies. The vulnerability's presence in multiple version branches suggests that organizations with legacy systems or those not actively maintaining their software updates may be particularly vulnerable. Security teams may find their incident response procedures complicated by this vulnerability, as the information disclosure could mask other security issues or create false security postures. The potential for this vulnerability to be exploited in conjunction with other attack vectors makes it particularly dangerous in environments where network segmentation and access controls are already compromised.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations to address CVE-2023-22326 by applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates for their affected BIG-IP and BIG-IQ systems. The recommended approach involves upgrading to the patched versions for each affected release line, including 17.0.0.2, 16.1.3.3, 15.1.8.1, 14.1.5.3, and appropriate versions for 13.1.x, 8.x, and 7.1.x branches. System administrators should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected software within their infrastructure and prioritize remediation efforts based on risk exposure. Network segmentation strategies should be reviewed to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, particularly for systems that may be accessible to users with resource administrator privileges. Access control reviews should be performed to ensure that only authorized personnel maintain administrator or resource administrator roles, implementing the principle of least privilege more rigorously. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous usage patterns in the iControl REST and TMOS shell interfaces that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing additional logging and auditing controls around the dig command functionality to track usage and identify potential unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing) as attackers may use the leaked information to craft more sophisticated social engineering attacks. Regular security awareness training should be reinforced to ensure that administrators understand the importance of maintaining proper access controls and monitoring system access patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts.