Security Digest · Vulnerability record · Known exploited
CVE-2023-46747: F5 BIG-IP Configuration Utility Authentication Bypass Vulnerability
Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV). Undisclosed requests may bypass configuration utility authentication, allowing an attacker with network access to the BIG-IP system through the management port and/or self IP addresses to execute arbitrary system commands.
CISA KEV · added 2023-10-31 CVSS 9.8 Critical EPSS 96.5% · p99.9
Should you act?
Exploited: patch now if you run it
CISA has confirmed exploitation in the wild. This signal is computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS data; it is not an editorial verdict.
- Yes, if you run F5 BIG-IP Configuration Utility. CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2023-10-31, which means there is reliable evidence of exploitation in the wild. US federal agencies must remediate by 2023-11-21; treat that as the outer limit, not the target. CISA also lists it as known to be used in ransomware campaigns.
- EPSS 96.5%, percentile 99.9: FIRST’s model estimates a 96.5% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 99.9% of all scored CVEs (very high). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Remotely reachable with no login and no user interaction. If the vulnerable service is exposed to the internet, prioritize it.
What it is
Undisclosed requests may bypass configuration utility authentication, allowing an attacker with network access to the BIG-IP system through the management port and/or self IP addresses to execute arbitrary system commands. Note: Software versions which have reached End of Technical Support (EoTS) are not evaluated
CISA’s summary
F5 BIG-IP Configuration utility contains an authentication bypass using an alternate path or channel vulnerability due to undisclosed requests that may allow an unauthenticated attacker with network access to the BIG-IP system through the management port and/or self IP addresses to execute system commands. This vulnerability can be used in conjunction with CVE-2023-46748.
Weakness type: CWE-288.
Product: F5 BIG-IP Configuration Utility · Assigned by: f5 · Published: 2023-10-26
Affected and fixed versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions (per CVE record) |
|---|---|---|
| F5 | BIG-IP | 17.1.0 < *, 16.1.0 < *, 15.1.0 < *, 14.1.0 < *, 13.1.0 < * |
Severity scores
| Scored by | CVSS | Score | Vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| f5 | 3.1 | 9.8 Critical | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
- Attack vector: network (remotely reachable)
- Attack complexity: low
- Privileges required: none (no login)
- User interaction: none
- Scope: unchanged
CVSS measures how bad a flaw is if exploited, not how likely exploitation is. Read it next to the exploitation data below.
Exploitation and urgency
- CISA KEV: added 2023-10-31; federal due date 2023-11-21. Known ransomware use: Known.
- CISA required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation active, automatable yes, technical impact total.
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 96.52% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 99.9.
Timeline
- — CVE record published by f5
- — Added to CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
- — CISA remediation deadline for US federal agencies
- — CVE record last updated
Sources and references
Original sources first. Version and fix details should always be confirmed against the vendor or project advisory.
Vendor and project advisories, patches
- my.f5.com my.f5.com
Vulnerability records
- CVE.org record CVE-2023-46747 cve.org
- NVD entry CVE-2023-46747 nvd.nist.gov
Government
Other references from the CVE record and advisory
- packetstormsecurity.com packetstormsecurity.com
- secpod.com secpod.com