CVE-2024-23603 in BIG-IP Advanced WAF
Summary
by MITRE • 02/14/2024
An SQL injection vulnerability exists in an undisclosed page of the BIG-IP Configuration utility.
Note: Software versions which have reached End of Technical Support (EoTS) are not evaluated
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/05/2025
The CVE-2024-23603 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the BIG-IP Configuration utility, a widely deployed application delivery controller platform developed by F5 Networks. This vulnerability specifically affects an undisclosed page within the configuration utility, making it particularly dangerous as attackers cannot easily predict or identify the exact entry point for exploitation. The BIG-IP platform serves as a cornerstone for load balancing, application security, and traffic management across enterprise networks, making this vulnerability a significant concern for organizations relying on F5's solutions. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's database interaction layers, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands through user-controllable parameters.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits specially crafted input to the affected page, which then gets processed through the application's database connection without proper sanitization. This flaw falls under the CWE-89 category of SQL Injection, specifically manifesting as an unauthenticated attack vector that can potentially lead to complete database compromise. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database, potentially enabling data extraction, modification, or deletion of critical configuration information. The undisclosed nature of the affected page adds to the severity as it prevents organizations from easily implementing targeted patches or workarounds, and it also means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability without prior knowledge of the exact system components involved.
Operationally, the impact of CVE-2024-23603 extends far beyond simple data theft, as it can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive network infrastructure. Organizations utilizing BIG-IP systems may face unauthorized access to application configurations, user credentials stored in the database, and potentially sensitive network information that could be leveraged for further attacks. The vulnerability's presence in the configuration utility means that attackers could potentially manipulate load balancing rules, modify security policies, or even redirect traffic to malicious endpoints. This represents a significant threat to business continuity and network security posture, particularly in environments where the BIG-IP system serves as a critical component of the application delivery infrastructure. The attack surface is further expanded due to the configuration utility's role in managing network traffic flows, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-23603 should prioritize immediate patching from F5 Networks, as the vendor has released security updates to address this vulnerability. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to the BIG-IP configuration utility, particularly restricting access to authorized administrative personnel only. Additionally, implementing proper input validation, parameterized queries, and database access controls can help reduce the impact of potential exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual database query patterns and unauthorized access attempts to the configuration utility. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to provide additional protection against SQL injection attacks. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of remote services and T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage, making it a significant concern for organizations following MITRE ATT&CK framework-based security assessments. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues within the broader network infrastructure.