CVE-2018-5520 : What You Need to Know

A potential vulnerability has been identified on F5 BIG-IP versions 13.0.0-13.1.0.5, 12.1.0-12.1.3.1, or 11.2.1-11.6.3.1 that could allow unauthorized access to file system resources.

Understanding CVE-2018-5520

This CVE involves a privilege escalation vulnerability on F5 BIG-IP systems when configured in Appliance mode.

What is CVE-2018-5520?

The vulnerability allows an administrative user to exploit the dig utility, potentially leading to unauthorized access to file system resources.

The Impact of CVE-2018-5520

The exploitation of this vulnerability could result in unauthorized access to sensitive file system resources, posing a security risk to the affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-5520

This section provides more technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The TMOS Shell (tmsh) on F5 BIG-IP systems may allow administrative users to gain unauthorized access to file system resources using the dig utility.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: BIG-IP (LTM, AAM, AFM, Analytics, APM, ASM, DNS, Edge Gateway, GTM, Link Controller, PEM, WebAccelerator, WebSafe)
Vendor: F5 Networks, Inc.
Versions: 13.0.0-13.1.0.5, 12.1.0-12.1.3.1, 11.2.1-11.6.3.1

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by an administrative user leveraging the dig utility to gain unauthorized access to file system resources.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-5520 is crucial to maintaining security.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-supplied patches promptly.
Monitor system logs for any suspicious activities.
Restrict access to critical system utilities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch systems to address known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security training for system administrators to enhance awareness of potential risks.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all affected systems are updated with the latest patches provided by F5 Networks, Inc.