CVE-2019-6666 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability in F5 BIG-IP versions 15.0.0-15.0.1, 14.1.0-14.1.0.5, 14.0.0-14.0.0.4, and 13.1.0-13.1.1.4 could lead to a Denial of Service (DoS) attack.

Understanding CVE-2019-6666

This CVE involves a potential issue in the TMM process of F5 BIG-IP devices that could result in a DoS situation.

What is CVE-2019-6666?

The vulnerability allows the TMM process to generate a core file if an invalid age header value is received from an upstream server or cache.

The Impact of CVE-2019-6666

The vulnerability could be exploited to cause a DoS condition, impacting the availability of the affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-6666

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The TMM process on F5 BIG-IP devices may create a core file upon receiving an invalid age header value from an upstream server or cache.

Affected Systems and Versions

F5 BIG-IP versions 15.0.0-15.0.1
F5 BIG-IP versions 14.1.0-14.1.0.5
F5 BIG-IP versions 14.0.0-14.0.0.4
F5 BIG-IP versions 13.1.0-13.1.1.4

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by sending a specifically crafted request with an invalid age header value to the affected BIG-IP devices.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-6666 requires immediate actions and long-term security measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches provided by F5 to address the vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity that could indicate exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch F5 BIG-IP devices to prevent known vulnerabilities.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that F5 BIG-IP devices are kept up to date with the latest security patches and firmware releases to mitigate the risk of exploitation.