F5 BIG-IP 2.0 Configuration Interface bigconf.conf File privileges management

| CVSS Meta Temp Score | Current Exploit Price (≈) | CTI Interest Score |
|---|---|---|
| 5.1 | $0-$5k | 0.00 |
Summary
A vulnerability was found in F5 BIG-IP 2.0. It has been classified as critical. This affects an unknown function of the file bigconf.conf of the component Configuration Interface. The manipulation of the argument File leads to privileges management. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-1999-1550. No exploit exists. This vulnerability is historically significant due to its background and the way it was received. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.
Details
A vulnerability was found in F5 BIG-IP 2.0 (Firewall Software). It has been rated as critical. This issue affects an unknown code block of the file bigconf.conf of the component Configuration Interface. The manipulation of the argument file with an unknown input leads to a privileges management vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-269. The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor. Impacted is confidentiality. The summary by CVE is:
bigconf.conf in F5 BIG/ip 2.1.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files by specifying the target file in the "file" parameter.
The weakness was disclosed 11/08/1999 as not defined posting (Bugtraq). The advisory is shared at marc.theaimsgroup.com. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-1999-1550. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available. The price for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 10/20/2025). MITRE ATT&CK project uses the attack technique T1068 for this issue. Due to its background and reception, this vulnerability has a historic impact.
The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 10027 (F5 BIG/ip bigconf.cgi file Parameter Arbitrary File Access), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family CGI abuses and running in the context r. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 10196 (F5 Networks BigIP bigconf CGI File Disclosure Vulnerability).
Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability. Attack attempts may be identified with Snort ID 1172. Furthermore it is possible to detect and prevent this kind of attack with TippingPoint and the filter 519.
The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (7771), Tenable (10027), SecurityFocus (BID 778†) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-79†). If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Product
Type
Vendor
Name
Version
License
Website
- Vendor: https://f5.com/
CPE 2.3
CPE 2.2
CVSSv4
VulDB Vector: 🔍VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv3
VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.3VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.1
VulDB Base Score: 5.3
VulDB Temp Score: 5.1
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv2
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| 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 |
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| Vector | Complexity | Authentication | Confidentiality | Integrity | Availability |
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
NVD Base Score: 🔍
Exploiting
Class: Privileges managementCWE: CWE-269 / CWE-266
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍
Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes
Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined
EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍
| 0-Day | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
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| Today | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
Nessus ID: 10027
Nessus Name: F5 BIG/ip bigconf.cgi file Parameter Arbitrary File Access
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍
Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍
Threat Intelligence
Interest: 🔍Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍
Countermeasures
Recommended: UpgradeStatus: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Snort ID: 1172
Snort Message: SERVER-WEBAPP bigconf.cgi access
Snort Class: 🔍
TippingPoint: 🔍
SourceFire IPS: 🔍
Timeline
11/08/1999 🔍11/08/1999 🔍
11/08/1999 🔍
11/08/1999 🔍
11/10/1999 🔍
10/13/2002 🔍
06/22/2014 🔍
10/20/2025 🔍
Sources
Vendor: f5.comAdvisory: marc.theaimsgroup.com
Status: Confirmed
CVE: CVE-1999-1550 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-1999-1550
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-14957
X-Force: 7771
SecurityFocus: 778 - BigIP Config UI Vulnerabilities
Vulnerability Center: 79 - BigIP File Read Vulnerability, Medium
Entry
Created: 06/22/2014 14:40Updated: 10/20/2025 02:38
Changes: 06/22/2014 14:40 (72), 05/04/2019 20:44 (2), 10/20/2025 02:38 (20)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
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