CVE-2020-5891 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability on BIG-IP versions 15.1.0-15.1.0.1, 15.0.0-15.0.1.2, and 14.1.0-14.1.2.3 can result in a denial of service due to undisclosed HTTP/2 requests.

Understanding CVE-2020-5891

This CVE involves a vulnerability on F5's BIG-IP platform that can be exploited to cause a denial of service (DoS) attack.

What is CVE-2020-5891?

This CVE pertains to undisclosed HTTP/2 requests that, when sent to a virtual server with specific configurations, can lead to a denial of service on affected BIG-IP versions.

The Impact of CVE-2020-5891

The vulnerability can be exploited by sending malicious HTTP/2 requests to a virtual server, potentially causing service disruption or unavailability.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-5891

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

Vulnerability Description

Undisclosed HTTP/2 requests can trigger a denial of service when directed at a virtual server with specific settings on BIG-IP versions 15.1.0-15.1.0.1, 15.0.0-15.0.1.2, and 14.1.0-14.1.2.3.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: BIG-IP
Versions: 15.1.0-15.1.0.1, 15.0.0-15.0.1.2, 14.1.0-14.1.2.3

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is exploited by sending undisclosed HTTP/2 requests to a virtual server configured with specific settings, including the Fallback Host setting and a server-side HTTP/2 profile.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-5891 is crucial to maintaining security.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-provided patches or updates promptly.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious HTTP/2 requests.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch systems to address known vulnerabilities.
Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from F5 and apply patches as soon as they are available.