CVE-2018-5516 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

F5 Networks, Inc. disclosed a vulnerability affecting various products, allowing authenticated attackers to access restricted file system objects.

Understanding CVE-2018-5516

This CVE impacts multiple F5 products, enabling unauthorized access to file system objects.

What is CVE-2018-5516?

The vulnerability in F5 products allows authenticated users with TMOS Shell access to bypass file system restrictions, potentially leading to unauthorized file access.

The Impact of CVE-2018-5516

The vulnerability permits authenticated attackers with low privileges to manipulate and access restricted file system objects, compromising system integrity.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-5516

This section delves into the technical aspects of the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

Users granted TMOS Shell access can exploit the flaw to access restricted file system objects, breaching security protocols.

Affected Systems and Versions

BIG-IP versions 13.0.0-13.1.0.5, 12.1.0-12.1.2, 11.2.1-11.6.3.1
Enterprise Manager version 3.1.1
BIG-IQ Centralized Management versions 5.0.0-5.4.0, 4.6.0
BIG-IQ Cloud and Orchestration version 1.0.0
iWorkflow versions 2.0.2-2.3.0

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with authenticated TMOS Shell access can transfer and remove objects from the file system, breaching security boundaries.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2018-5516 with these strategies.

Immediate Steps to Take

Restrict TMOS Shell access to authorized personnel only
Monitor file system activities for suspicious behavior
Apply the latest security patches and updates

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update access control policies
Conduct security training for staff on file system security best practices

Patching and Updates

Install patches provided by F5 Networks to address the vulnerability