CVE-2022-1388KEV · OVERDUECWE-306

F5 BIG-IP Missing Authentication Vulnerability

Critical · published May 5, 2022

Patch now

Confirmed exploited, and the score agrees

CVSS calls it critical at 9.8. It is confirmed in active exploitation. It sits in the 100.0th percentile for exploit probability.

1606
days past CISA
deadline
CVSS v3.1
9.8
EPSS
100%
Percentile
100.0
In the wild
Confirmed
What it is

🚨 A sneaky loophole means that on certain versions of F5 BIG-IP, an attacker might just stroll right in without a key! 🔥 Think of this like a hotel with a malfunctioning lock on the back door, where anyone could walk in without a room key. If no one’s checking, all kinds of unwanted guests could roam around freely! This vulnerability allows attackers to bypass authentication entirely, meaning they could potentially access sensitive configurations and data without any credentials. Imagine someone having unrestricted access to your server's control center — they could wreak havoc, change settings, or even take it offline. It’s an absolute disaster waiting to happen!

Put simply

Think of this like a hotel with a malfunctioning lock on the back door, where anyone could walk in without a room key. If no one’s checking, all kinds of unwanted guests could roam around freely! The flaw in the F5 BIG-IP software allows unauthorized requests to bypass iControl REST authentication for versions prior to 16.1.2.2, 15.1.5.1, and several others, leading to critical exposure of the API. Essentially, it’s like having a security gate that doesn’t actually work!

What to do

This vulnerability allows attackers to bypass authentication entirely, meaning they could potentially access sensitive configurations and data without any credentials. Imagine someone having unrestricted access to your server's control center — they could wreak havoc, change settings, or even take it offline. It’s an absolute disaster waiting to happen! To protect yourself, immediately upgrade to the latest versions: 16.1.2.2, 15.1.5.1, 14.1.4.6, or 13.1.5. If you’re still on an older version, consider migrating to a supported release. Don't forget to review your server configurations after the patch! You’ve got this! By patching up and securing your systems, you’ll be fortifying the digital castle against unwanted guests! 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS v3.1
9.8 · CRITICAL
Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.99954 · 100.0th percentile
Weakness
CWE-306 · Missing Authentication for Critical Function
Published
2022-05-05T16:18Z
KEV added
2022-05-10 · due 2022-05-31
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 10 MAY 00:00Z
    Added to CISA KEV — remediate by May 31
    kev
  • 05 MAY 16:18Z
    On F5 BIG-IP 16.1.x versions prior to 16.1.2.2, 15.1.x versions prior to 15.1.5.1, 14.1.x versions prior to 14.1.4.6, 13.1.x versions prior to 13.1.5, and all…
    cvelistv5