CVE-2024-37028 in BIG-IP Next Central Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 08/14/2024
BIG-IP Next Central Manager may allow an attacker to lock out an account that has never been logged in. Note: Software versions which have reached End of Technical Support (EoTS) are not evaluated.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-37028 affects BIG-IP Next Central Manager systems, representing a significant security flaw that could be exploited to disrupt legitimate user access. This issue specifically targets account lockout mechanisms within the F5 BIG-IP platform, which is widely deployed for application delivery and security services in enterprise environments. The vulnerability exists in the account management functionality of the Central Manager component, which serves as the primary administrative interface for configuring and managing BIG-IP systems. Organizations utilizing this platform for critical infrastructure protection may face operational disruptions when legitimate users encounter unexpected account lockouts. The flaw manifests when an attacker can trigger account lockout conditions for accounts that have never been used for authentication, creating a scenario where previously unused credentials become inaccessible. This represents a deviation from normal account lockout behavior where typically only accounts with failed authentication attempts would be locked. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited without requiring prior access credentials or knowledge of existing user accounts, making it a potential vector for denial-of-service attacks against legitimate administrators. Security teams responsible for managing F5 BIG-IP deployments must understand that this vulnerability could be leveraged to create unauthorized access control disruptions within their network infrastructure. The impact extends beyond simple account lockout scenarios as it could potentially be combined with other attack vectors to systematically disable administrative access to critical network services. This vulnerability affects the integrity of the authentication system and could undermine trust in the platform's access control mechanisms, particularly in environments where administrative access is tightly controlled and monitored. The flaw demonstrates a weakness in the account management logic that should properly distinguish between legitimate authentication attempts and malicious account lockout attempts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper validation within the account lockout logic of the BIG-IP Next Central Manager. The system fails to properly verify whether an account has ever been authenticated before before applying lockout mechanisms, creating a condition where accounts that have never been used can be locked out through malicious input or automated attacks. This flaw likely resides in the authentication session management code or account state tracking functions that do not adequately distinguish between different types of account usage patterns. The vulnerability manifests when specific API calls or administrative commands are executed against the Central Manager interface, triggering account lockout conditions for accounts that have no historical authentication data. From a code execution perspective, this represents a logic flaw rather than a traditional buffer overflow or injection vulnerability, making it more subtle and potentially harder to detect through standard security scanning tools. The vulnerability may be exploitable through various attack vectors including automated scripts that repeatedly target account management functions or through manipulation of administrative interfaces that do not properly validate account states. This type of vulnerability is categorized under CWE-284 Access Control Issues, specifically related to improper access control mechanisms that fail to properly validate account states and authentication history. The technical implementation suggests that the system's account lockout algorithm does not properly handle accounts with zero authentication events, leading to erroneous lockout decisions. This behavior violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and proper access control enforcement, where systems should not lock out accounts without proper authentication evidence.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-37028 extends beyond simple account lockout scenarios to potentially compromise entire administrative access domains within affected organizations. When legitimate administrators encounter locked accounts that have never been used for login, it creates a cascading effect where critical system maintenance and monitoring operations may be delayed or prevented entirely. This vulnerability can be particularly damaging in mission-critical environments where rapid response to security incidents is essential, as administrators may be unable to access systems during emergency situations. Organizations may experience increased help desk requests and support tickets related to account access issues, potentially overwhelming IT support teams during peak operational periods. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to systematically disable administrative access by targeting accounts that have never been used, effectively creating a denial-of-service condition for legitimate users. From an operational standpoint, this could lead to extended downtime for critical network services as administrators work to resolve account lockout issues. The impact on business continuity is significant, particularly in environments where F5 BIG-IP systems are used for application delivery and security services that support core business operations. Security monitoring systems may generate false positive alerts when encountering this vulnerability, potentially masking actual security incidents or creating alert fatigue among security operations personnel. The vulnerability's potential for automated exploitation means that organizations may experience repeated lockout incidents without proper detection or prevention mechanisms in place. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the availability of administrative functions and could be exploited to create unauthorized access control disruptions that persist until the underlying issue is resolved through system updates or patches.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-37028 should focus on immediate protective measures while awaiting official patches from F5, as organizations cannot rely on the vulnerability being resolved through normal update cycles. The primary recommendation involves implementing enhanced monitoring of account lockout events to identify unusual patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, particularly lockouts of accounts with no authentication history. Security teams should review and strengthen account lockout policies to ensure that systems properly validate account states before applying lockout mechanisms, implementing additional checks to prevent lockout of accounts that have never been authenticated. Organizations should consider temporarily disabling automated account lockout features or implementing more granular lockout thresholds that require multiple failed authentication attempts before triggering account lockout conditions. Network segmentation and access control measures should be reviewed to limit potential exploitation paths, particularly around administrative interfaces and API endpoints that may be targeted by attackers. The implementation of multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts can provide additional protection layers that make successful exploitation more difficult even if account lockout mechanisms are compromised. System administrators should also consider implementing account activity monitoring that tracks account creation and usage patterns to quickly identify potential malicious activity targeting the lockout functionality. From an operational perspective, organizations should maintain detailed documentation of account lockout events and establish clear procedures for resolving lockout incidents without compromising security controls. Regular security assessments should be conducted to verify that account management functions are operating correctly and that lockout mechanisms are properly configured to prevent unauthorized access control disruptions. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of maintaining current security patches and following vendor security advisories closely, particularly for systems that have reached end-of-life or end-of-technical-support status where vendor support may be limited. Organizations should consider implementing compensating controls such as manual account verification procedures and enhanced audit logging to detect and respond to exploitation attempts effectively. The implementation of these mitigations should align with industry best practices for access control management and follow frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 or ISO 27001 security control requirements for account management and access control.