CVE-2020-5886 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability in BIG-IP systems could lead to information disclosure when configured for connection mirroring in a High Availability pair.

Understanding CVE-2020-5886

What is CVE-2020-5886?

CVE-2020-5886 is a control plane issue affecting BIG-IP systems running specific versions, where sensitive cryptographic objects are transmitted insecurely during connection mirroring setup.

The Impact of CVE-2020-5886

The vulnerability exposes sensitive information over an insecure network, potentially leading to unauthorized access to cryptographic objects.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-5886

Vulnerability Description

The issue occurs in BIG-IP systems configured for connection mirroring, allowing the exposure of cryptographic objects over an insecure communication channel.

Affected Systems and Versions

Products: BIG-IP
Versions: 15.0.0-15.1.0.1, 14.1.0-14.1.2.3, 13.1.0-13.1.3.3, 12.1.0-12.1.5.1

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is exploited by intercepting the insecure communication channel used for connection mirroring, enabling unauthorized access to sensitive cryptographic objects.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable connection mirroring if not essential for operations.
Implement network segmentation to restrict access to the control plane.
Monitor network traffic for any unauthorized access attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch BIG-IP systems to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments to identify and address potential weaknesses in the network infrastructure.
Educate personnel on secure configuration practices and the risks associated with information disclosure.

Patching and Updates

Apply the latest patches and updates provided by F5 to address the CVE-2020-5886 vulnerability and enhance system security.