CVE-2023-40537 in BIG-IP APM
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
An authenticated user's session cookie may remain valid for a limited time after logging out from the BIG-IP Configuration utility on a multi-blade VIPRION platform. Note: Software versions which have reached End of Technical Support (EoTS) are not evaluated.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/28/2023
This vulnerability exists within F5 Networks BIG-IP Configuration utility running on multi-blade VIPRION platforms where session management fails to properly invalidate user sessions immediately upon logout. The flaw allows authenticated users to maintain access to the system through cached session cookies even after they have explicitly logged out, creating a window of opportunity for unauthorized access. This represents a critical session management weakness that directly impacts the principle of least privilege and proper access control enforcement within enterprise security infrastructure.
The technical implementation flaw stems from improper session invalidation mechanisms within the BIG-IP platform's authentication subsystem. When a user performs a logout action through the web interface, the system should immediately revoke all active session tokens and invalidate the corresponding session cookie stored in the user's browser. However, this vulnerability allows the session cookie to remain valid for a limited time window after logout, effectively creating a session fixation or session hijacking vector. This behavior violates fundamental security principles outlined in CWE-613 and CWE-384, which address inadequate session management and the persistence of session tokens beyond their intended validity period.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple access control concerns, as it provides attackers with a potential pathway for privilege escalation and persistent access to critical network infrastructure. An attacker who can observe or intercept session cookies during the brief window of validity after logout could potentially impersonate legitimate users and gain unauthorized access to sensitive configuration data, network policies, and administrative functions. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for credential harvesting and T1548.001 for privilege escalation through session management flaws. The multi-blade VIPRION platform architecture compounds the risk as these systems often serve as central points of network control and security policy enforcement.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including immediate session invalidation upon logout, enhanced session monitoring, and implementation of short-lived session tokens with automatic renewal mechanisms. The recommended approach involves configuring the BIG-IP system to enforce immediate session termination upon logout and implementing additional security controls such as session timeout policies and periodic session validation checks. System administrators should also consider implementing network-based monitoring to detect anomalous session behavior and ensure that software versions are not running end-of-life support, as the vulnerability may be more prevalent in older unsupported releases. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to verify that session management mechanisms are properly functioning and that no unauthorized access pathways exist through session cookie persistence.