CVE-2021-23011 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2021-23011, a vulnerability in BIG-IP software versions 11.6.x to 16.0.x, leading to resource consumption, system restarts, and DoS attacks.
This article provides detailed information about CVE-2021-23011, a vulnerability affecting certain versions of the BIG-IP software.
Understanding CVE-2021-23011
CVE-2021-23011 is a vulnerability found in versions 16.0.x before 16.0.1.1, 15.1.x before 15.1.3, 14.1.x before 14.1.4, 13.1.x before 13.1.4, 12.1.x before 12.1.6, and 11.6.x before 11.6.5.3 of the BIG-IP software.
What is CVE-2021-23011?
This vulnerability occurs when the Traffic Management Microkernel (TMM) consumes an excessive amount of resources while buffering packet fragments for reassembly, potentially leading to a system restart and failover event.
The Impact of CVE-2021-23011
The vulnerability can be exploited to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) condition, affecting the availability and performance of the BIG-IP system.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-23011
The technical details of CVE-2021-23011 include:
Vulnerability Description
On affected versions of BIG-IP, the TMM may consume excessive resources during the reassembly of packet fragments, leading to system instability.
Affected Systems and Versions
Versions 16.0.x before 16.0.1.1, 15.1.x before 15.1.3, 14.1.x before 14.1.4, 13.1.x before 13.1.4, 12.1.x before 12.1.6, and 11.6.x before 11.6.5.3 of BIG-IP software are impacted by this vulnerability.
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious network traffic to trigger the excessive resource consumption in the TMM.
Mitigation and Prevention
To address CVE-2021-23011, consider the following mitigation strategies:
Immediate Steps to Take
- Apply vendor-provided patches and updates to affected systems promptly.
- Monitor system resource usage to detect abnormal activity indicative of a potential attack.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update and patch software to protect against known vulnerabilities and reduce the attack surface.
- Implement network security measures to detect and block malicious traffic targeting vulnerable systems.
Patching and Updates
Check the vendor's official website for the latest patches and security updates related to CVE-2021-23011.