CVE-2020-5916 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

In BIG-IP versions 15.1.0-15.1.0.4 and 15.0.0-15.0.1.3, the Certificate Administrator user role and higher privileged roles can perform arbitrary file reads outside of the web root directory.

Understanding CVE-2020-5916

This CVE impacts BIG-IP versions 15.1.0-15.1.0.4 and 15.0.0-15.0.1.3, allowing certain user roles to access files outside the intended directory.

What is CVE-2020-5916?

CVE-2020-5916 is an information leakage vulnerability in BIG-IP versions 15.1.0-15.1.0.4 and 15.0.0-15.0.1.3, enabling unauthorized file reads beyond the web root directory.

The Impact of CVE-2020-5916

The vulnerability allows users with specific roles to access sensitive files outside the designated web directory, potentially leading to unauthorized information disclosure.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-5916

This section provides technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in BIG-IP versions 15.1.0-15.1.0.4 and 15.0.0-15.0.1.3 permits Certificate Administrator and higher privileged roles to read arbitrary files outside the web root.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: BIG-IP
Versions: 15.1.0-15.1.0.4, 15.0.0-15.0.1.3

Exploitation Mechanism

Unauthorized users with the Certificate Administrator role or higher can exploit this vulnerability to access files beyond the web root, potentially leading to data leakage.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2020-5916 with the following measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-supplied patches promptly.
Restrict access to sensitive directories.
Monitor file access and privilege escalation closely.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch systems to address known vulnerabilities.
Implement the principle of least privilege to restrict user access.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security patches and updates to mitigate the risk of information leakage.