CVE-2019-6616 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2019-6616 affecting F5 BIG-IP versions 11.5.2-14.1.0.1. Administrative users with TMSH access can escalate privileges by overwriting critical system files.
Administrative users with TMSH access on F5 BIG-IP versions 11.5.2-14.1.0.1 can overwrite critical system files, potentially bypassing appliance mode restrictions.
Understanding CVE-2019-6616
Administrative users with TMSH access on affected F5 BIG-IP versions can escalate privileges by overwriting system files.
What is CVE-2019-6616?
Administrative users with TMSH access on F5 BIG-IP versions 11.5.2-14.1.0.1 can overwrite crucial system files, potentially bypassing whitelist or blacklist restrictions enforced by the appliance mode.
The Impact of CVE-2019-6616
- Privilege escalation vulnerability on F5 BIG-IP devices
- Allows administrative users to overwrite important system files
- Bypasses restrictions set by the appliance mode
Technical Details of CVE-2019-6616
Administrative users with TMSH access on F5 BIG-IP versions 11.5.2-14.1.0.1 can exploit this vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
- Administrative users can overwrite critical system files
- Risk of bypassing whitelist or blacklist restrictions
Affected Systems and Versions
- F5 BIG-IP versions 11.5.2-14.1.0.1
Exploitation Mechanism
- Administrative users with TMSH access can exploit the vulnerability to escalate privileges
Mitigation and Prevention
Immediate Steps to Take:
- Apply vendor-provided patches or updates
- Restrict TMSH access for administrative users
Long-Term Security Practices:
- Regularly monitor and audit system file changes
- Implement the principle of least privilege
- Conduct security training for administrative users
- Enforce strong password policies
- Regularly update and patch F5 BIG-IP devices