CVE-2021-23054 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A detailed overview of the reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in BIG-IP APM and its impact.

Understanding CVE-2021-23054

This section will cover what CVE-2021-23054 entails, its impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2021-23054?

The vulnerability lies in BIG-IP APM versions 16.x before 16.1.0, 15.1.x before 15.1.4, and older versions, allowing a reflected XSS attack on the resource information page for authenticated users.

The Impact of CVE-2021-23054

The vulnerability poses a security risk by enabling attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of a trusted user, potentially leading to sensitive data theft and unauthorized actions.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-23054

This part will delve into the vulnerability description, affected systems, versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The XSS flaw in BIG-IP APM results in the execution of unauthorized scripts when a full webtop configuration is utilized by authenticated users.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability impacts BIG-IP APM versions 16.x prior to 16.1.0, 15.1.x before 15.1.4, and all versions of 13.1.x, 12.1.x, and 11.6.x.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious scripts embedded in URLs, tricking authenticated users into executing them inadvertently.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section covers the immediate steps to take and long-term security practices to mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2021-23054.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users should update their BIG-IP APM systems to the latest patched versions and implement security best practices to protect against XSS attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Enforce strict input validation, sanitize user inputs, and regularly update software and security protocols to counter emerging threats.

Patching and Updates

F5 has released patches for the affected versions to address the XSS vulnerability in BIG-IP APM.