CVE-2018-5519 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies
Learn about CVE-2018-5519, a privilege escalation vulnerability in F5 Networks BIG-IP products. Find out affected versions, exploitation details, and mitigation steps.
A privilege escalation vulnerability affecting F5 Networks, Inc.'s BIG-IP products.
Understanding CVE-2018-5519
What is CVE-2018-5519?
The ssldump utility on F5 BIG-IP versions 13.0.0-13.1.0.5, 12.1.0-12.1.3.3, or 11.2.1-11.6.3.1 can be exploited by administrative users to write to unauthorized file paths, potentially leading to unintended file access.
The Impact of CVE-2018-5519
This vulnerability can result in more permissive file access for users without Advanced Shell access, such as those in Appliance Mode.
Technical Details of CVE-2018-5519
Vulnerability Description
Administrative users on affected F5 BIG-IP versions can exploit ssldump to write to unauthorized file paths.
Affected Systems and Versions
- BIG-IP (LTM, AAM, AFM, Analytics, APM, ASM, DNS, Edge Gateway, GTM, Link Controller, PEM, WebAccelerator, WebSafe)
- Versions: 13.0.0-13.1.0.5, 12.1.0-12.1.3.3, 11.2.1-11.6.3.1
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability allows administrative users to write to file paths they should not have access to, potentially leading to privilege escalation.
Mitigation and Prevention
Immediate Steps to Take
- Apply vendor-supplied patches promptly
- Monitor for any unauthorized file access
- Restrict administrative access to affected systems
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update and patch systems
- Implement the principle of least privilege to restrict user access
Patching and Updates
- F5 Networks has released patches to address this vulnerability