CVE-2020-5872 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This CVE involves a vulnerability in BIG-IP versions 12.1.0-12.1.4.1, 13.1.0-13.1.3.1, 14.0.0-14.0.1, and 14.1.0-14.1.2.3 that can lead to a denial of service (DoS) condition.

Understanding CVE-2020-5872

This vulnerability affects the Traffic Management Microkernel (TMM) on BIG-IP platforms with Intel QAT hardware when processing TLS traffic with hardware cryptographic acceleration enabled.

What is CVE-2020-5872?

CVE-2020-5872 is a vulnerability in BIG-IP devices that can cause the TMM to become unresponsive, triggering a failover event.

The Impact of CVE-2020-5872

The vulnerability can result in a denial of service condition, potentially disrupting network traffic and services.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-5872

This section provides more in-depth technical information about the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The issue occurs when processing TLS traffic with hardware cryptographic acceleration enabled on BIG-IP platforms with Intel QAT hardware, leading to TMM unresponsiveness.

Affected Systems and Versions

BIG-IP versions 12.1.0-12.1.4.1
BIG-IP versions 13.1.0-13.1.3.1
BIG-IP versions 14.0.0-14.0.1
BIG-IP versions 14.1.0-14.1.2.3

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is exploited by sending specially crafted TLS traffic to the affected BIG-IP devices, triggering the TMM unresponsiveness.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-5872 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable hardware cryptographic acceleration on affected BIG-IP platforms.
Monitor for any unusual TMM behavior or failover events.

Long-Term Security Practices

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

Patching and Updates

Apply the latest patches and updates provided by F5 Networks to address CVE-2020-5872 and enhance system security.