CVE-2020-5856 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2020-5856, a DoS vulnerability impacting F5's BIG-IP versions 15.0.0-15.0.1.1 and 14.1.0-14.1.2.2. Find out how to mitigate the risk and prevent service disruption.
On BIG-IP 15.0.0-15.0.1.1 and 14.1.0-14.1.2.2, a vulnerability exists that may cause a TMM restart in Virtual Edition instances hosted in AWS when processing specially crafted traffic.
Understanding CVE-2020-5856
What is CVE-2020-5856?
CVE-2020-5856 is a Denial of Service (DoS) vulnerability affecting F5's BIG-IP versions 15.0.0-15.0.1.1 and 14.1.0-14.1.2.2.
The Impact of CVE-2020-5856
The vulnerability can lead to a TMM restart in Virtual Edition instances on AWS, potentially causing service disruption.
Technical Details of CVE-2020-5856
Vulnerability Description
The issue occurs when processing specific traffic using the 'xnet' driver on affected BIG-IP versions, triggering a TMM restart.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: BIG-IP
- Vendor: F5
- Affected Versions: 15.0.0-15.0.1.1, 14.1.0-14.1.2.2
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability is exploited by sending crafted traffic to Virtual Edition instances on AWS, utilizing the default 'xnet' driver.
Mitigation and Prevention
Immediate Steps to Take
- Apply the necessary patches provided by F5 to address the vulnerability.
- Monitor network traffic for any signs of exploitation.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update and patch systems to prevent known vulnerabilities.
- Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure.
Patching and Updates
Ensure timely installation of security patches and updates from F5 to mitigate the risk of exploitation.