CVE-2026-24464 in BIG-IP
Summary
by MITRE • 05/13/2026
When running in Appliance mode, a directory traversal vulnerability exists in an undisclosed iControl REST endpoint that may allow an authenticated attacker with administrator role privileges to cross a security boundary and delete files. Note: Software versions which have reached End of Technical Support (EoTS) are not evaluated.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/22/2026
This directory traversal vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in the iControl REST API implementation within appliance mode deployments. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and path handling within an undisclosed endpoint that processes file operations. An authenticated attacker with administrator privileges can exploit this weakness to traverse directory boundaries and execute unauthorized file deletion operations. The flaw specifically manifests when the system fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input parameters that are used to construct file paths, allowing malicious actors to manipulate these inputs to access restricted directories beyond the intended scope. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-22 category for improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter. The security boundary crossing capability enables attackers to potentially access sensitive system files, configuration data, or even system binaries, significantly compromising the integrity and availability of the affected appliance.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file deletion to encompass potential system compromise and data destruction. An attacker could leverage this weakness to remove critical system components, disable security features, or corrupt essential configuration files that would require complete system reinstallation to resolve. The authenticated nature of the attack means that the vulnerability cannot be exploited by unauthenticated users, but it does represent a significant risk for organizations where administrator credentials are compromised or where insider threats exist. The fact that this affects appliance mode deployments suggests that the vulnerability is particularly concerning for organizations that rely on appliance-based solutions for their network infrastructure management and security operations. The vulnerability's potential for lateral movement within the system makes it especially dangerous when considering that administrators often have broad system access privileges.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the affected iControl REST endpoint. Organizations must ensure that all user-supplied parameters are properly validated against allowed character sets and that path traversal sequences are explicitly rejected. The implementation of a principle of least privilege should be enforced where possible, limiting administrator access to only necessary functions and reducing the attack surface. Regular security updates and patches from the vendor should be applied immediately upon availability, as the vulnerability likely affects multiple versions of the software. Network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect unusual file deletion patterns or access attempts to sensitive directories. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their appliance deployments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other components of their infrastructure. The vulnerability's classification as a directory traversal issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1565.001 for data manipulation and emphasizes the importance of proper access controls and input validation in REST API implementations.