CVE-2017-6131 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

In May 2017, CVE-2017-6131 was published, highlighting a security vulnerability affecting F5 BIG-IP Azure cloud instances.

Understanding CVE-2017-6131

This CVE identifies a risk associated with default administrative passwords in specific versions of F5 BIG-IP deployed on Azure cloud instances.

What is CVE-2017-6131?

The vulnerability allows unauthorized individuals to gain remote access to the BIG-IP system by exploiting default administrative passwords in versions 12.0.0 to 12.1.2 and 13.0.0.

The Impact of CVE-2017-6131

The vulnerability enables attackers to connect remotely to the BIG-IP host via SSH using the Azure instance's administrative account created during deployment.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-6131

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from the presence of default administrative passwords in affected F5 BIG-IP versions on Azure cloud instances.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: BIG-IP Azure cloud instance
Vendor: F5 Networks, Inc.
Vulnerable Versions: 12.0.0 to 12.1.2, 13.0.0

Exploitation Mechanism

Unauthorized individuals can exploit the default administrative password to gain remote access to the BIG-IP system, compromising its security.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2017-6131 is crucial for maintaining security.

Immediate Steps to Take

Change the default administrative password immediately after deployment.
Monitor and restrict SSH access to authorized personnel only.
Implement multi-factor authentication for enhanced security.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch the BIG-IP system to address security vulnerabilities.
Conduct security audits and penetration testing to identify and remediate potential weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by F5 Networks to eliminate the default administrative password vulnerability.