CVE-2018-5500 : What You Need to Know

This CVE-2018-5500 article provides insights into a vulnerability affecting F5 BIG-IP systems running specific versions, causing memory leaks in Multipath TCP connections.

Understanding CVE-2018-5500

This section delves into the details of the CVE-2018-5500 vulnerability.

What is CVE-2018-5500?

The issue impacts virtual servers using the Multipath TCP (MCTCP) feature on F5 BIG-IP systems running versions 13.0.0, 12.1.0 - 12.1.3.1, or 11.6.1 - 11.6.2. Each established MCTCP connection leads to a minor memory leak.

The Impact of CVE-2018-5500

The vulnerability can result in Denial of Service (DoS) due to memory leaks in Multipath TCP connections.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-5500

This section provides technical insights into the CVE-2018-5500 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

On affected F5 BIG-IP systems, every MCTCP connection established causes a small memory leak. Virtual servers using TCP profiles with the MCTCP feature enabled are susceptible to this issue.

Affected Systems and Versions

Products: BIG-IP LTM, AAM, AFM, Analytics, APM, ASM, DNS, Edge Gateway, GTM, Link Controller, PEM, WebAccelerator, WebSafe
Versions: 13.0.0, 12.1.0 - 12.1.3.1, 11.6.1 - 11.6.2

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is exploited through Multipath TCP connections, leading to memory leaks and potential DoS attacks.

Mitigation and Prevention

Learn how to mitigate and prevent the CVE-2018-5500 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-supplied patches promptly to address the memory leak issue.
Disable the Multipath TCP (MCTCP) feature on affected F5 BIG-IP systems.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and update F5 BIG-IP systems to prevent vulnerabilities.
Implement network segmentation and access controls to minimize the impact of potential DoS attacks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from F5 Networks, Inc.
Keep F5 BIG-IP systems up to date with the latest patches and firmware releases.