CVE-2018-5527 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis
Learn about CVE-2018-5527 affecting BIG-IP 13.1.0-13.1.0.7. Understand the impact, affected systems, exploitation mechanism, and mitigation steps to secure your systems.
A vulnerability in BIG-IP 13.1.0-13.1.0.7 allows a remote attacker to exploit the system, potentially causing performance degradation or a system reboot.
Understanding CVE-2018-5527
This CVE involves a flaw in F5 Networks, Inc.'s BIG-IP software version 13.1.0-13.1.0.7, impacting systems with specific configurations.
What is CVE-2018-5527?
The vulnerability in BIG-IP 13.1.0-13.1.0.7 enables a remote attacker to manipulate virtual servers with certain SSL profiles, leading to memory leaks in the Traffic Management Microkernel (tmm).
The Impact of CVE-2018-5527
Exploitation of this vulnerability can result in a gradual increase in system memory usage, potentially causing performance issues or system reboots if memory resources are fully consumed.
Technical Details of CVE-2018-5527
This section provides detailed technical insights into the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The flaw in BIG-IP 13.1.0-13.1.0.7 allows remote attackers to trigger memory leaks in tmm by manipulating virtual servers with specific SSL profiles.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: BIG-IP (LTM, AAM, AFM, Analytics, APM, ASM, DNS, Edge Gateway, GTM, Link Controller, PEM, WebAccelerator, WebSafe)
- Vendor: F5 Networks, Inc.
- Versions: 13.1.0-13.1.0.7
Exploitation Mechanism
- Attackers target virtual servers with Client SSL or Server SSL profiles and enabled SSL Forward Proxy feature
- Utilize undisclosed techniques to force tmm to release memory, leading to memory exhaustion
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from CVE-2018-5527 requires immediate actions and long-term security measures.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Apply vendor-supplied patches or updates promptly
- Disable SSL Forward Proxy feature if not essential
- Monitor system memory usage for anomalies
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update and patch software to address vulnerabilities
- Implement network segmentation and access controls
- Conduct security audits and assessments periodically
Patching and Updates
- F5 Networks, Inc. may release patches or updates to address the vulnerability
- Stay informed about security advisories and apply patches as soon as they are available