CVE-2021-23031 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A detailed overview of CVE-2021-23031, a privilege escalation vulnerability affecting BIG-IP Advanced WAF and ASM.

Understanding CVE-2021-23031

This section will cover the implications and technical details of the CVE.

What is CVE-2021-23031?

CVE-2021-23031 is a privilege escalation vulnerability that exists in BIG-IP Advanced WAF and ASM Configuration utility. It allows an authenticated user to elevate their privileges.

The Impact of CVE-2021-23031

The vulnerability affects versions 16.0.x before 16.0.1.2, 15.1.x before 15.1.3, 14.1.x before 14.1.4.1, 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 software.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-23031

Further technical insights into the vulnerability and affected systems.

Vulnerability Description

On the affected versions, an authenticated user can exploit the flaw to perform privilege escalation within the BIG-IP Advanced WAF and ASM Configuration utility.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability impacts BIG-IP Advanced WAF and ASM versions 16.0.x, 15.1.x, 14.1.x, 13.1.x, 12.1.x, and 11.6.x.

Exploitation Mechanism

The exploitation requires authentication, allowing an attacker to escalate their privileges within the affected utility.

Mitigation and Prevention

Best practices to prevent and mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2021-23031.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users should update to the patched versions provided by the vendor to eliminate the privilege escalation vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update the software to secure the system against known vulnerabilities and follow security best practices.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that the software is always up-to-date with the latest security patches to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.