CVE-2020-27716 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability in BIG-IP APM versions 11.6.1-15.1.0.5 can lead to a denial of service (DoS) condition when processing specific traffic.

Understanding CVE-2020-27716

This CVE identifies a critical issue in the BIG-IP APM software that can cause service disruption.

What is CVE-2020-27716?

The vulnerability occurs in versions 11.6.1-15.1.0.5 of BIG-IP APM when processing certain types of traffic, resulting in the Traffic Management Microkernel (TMM) becoming unresponsive and restarting.

The Impact of CVE-2020-27716

The vulnerability can be exploited to trigger a DoS condition, potentially disrupting services and causing operational issues for affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-27716

This section delves into the technical aspects of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

When specific traffic is processed by a BIG-IP APM virtual server in versions 11.6.1-15.1.0.5, the TMM may stop responding and restart, leading to a DoS condition.

Affected Systems and Versions

BIG-IP APM versions 15.1.0-15.1.0.5
BIG-IP APM versions 14.1.0-14.1.3
BIG-IP APM versions 13.1.0-13.1.3.5
BIG-IP APM versions 12.1.0-12.1.5.2
BIG-IP APM versions 11.6.1-11.6.5.2

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is exploited by sending specific traffic to a BIG-IP APM virtual server, triggering the TMM to stop responding and restart, causing a DoS condition.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-27716 requires immediate action and long-term security measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-supplied patches or updates to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for any signs of exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to prevent known vulnerabilities.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

F5 has released patches to address the vulnerability in affected versions of BIG-IP APM.