Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-22374

F5 Big-Ip Access Policy Manager 14.1.4.6 – 14.1.5

High EPSS
Published
01 February 2023
Modified
21 November 2024
Patch / advisory
View advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 8.5
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.73 99.4th percentile
Risk Priority 85 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2023-22374 is a high-severity Use of Externally-Controlled Format String (CWE-134) vulnerability in F5 Big-Ip Access Policy Manager. Its CVSS base score is 8.5 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploitation for Privilege Escalation (T1068); ranked in the top 0.6% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary

Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.

A format string vulnerability exists in the iControl SOAP component of F5 BIG-IP, tracked as CVE-2023-22374. The flaw, categorized under CWE-134, permits an authenticated attacker to crash the iControl SOAP CGI process or potentially execute arbitrary code. In appliance mode, successful exploitation can enable crossing a security boundary. The issue carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 8.5 and affects versions that have not reached end of technical support.

An authenticated attacker with network access can supply crafted input to trigger the vulnerability. Depending on the environment, this may result in denial of service through process crashes or, in some cases, arbitrary code execution that crosses security boundaries on BIG-IP appliances.

F5 has published mitigation guidance in knowledge base article K000130415, which practitioners should consult for patch availability and configuration recommendations specific to their BIG-IP deployments. The EPSS score reached a peak of 0.0583 before receding to its current value of 0.0232.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

A format string vulnerability exists in iControl SOAP that allows an authenticated attacker to crash the iControl SOAP CGI process or, potentially execute arbitrary code. In appliance mode BIG-IP, a successful exploit of this vulnerability can allow the attacker to…

more

cross a security boundary. Note: Software versions which have reached End of Technical Support (EoTS) are not evaluated.

CWE(s)
CWE-134

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation Privilege Escalation
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in an attempt to elevate privileges.
attack.mitre.org →
T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access
Adversaries may attempt to exploit a weakness in an Internet-facing host or system to initially access a network.
attack.mitre.org →
T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution Execution
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in client applications to execute code.
attack.mitre.org →
T1212 Exploitation for Credential Access Credential Access
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in an attempt to collect credentials.
attack.mitre.org →
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2023-22422Same product: F5 Big-Ip Access Policy Manager
CVE-2023-22842Same product: F5 Big-Ip Access Policy Manager
CVE-2021-22992Same product: F5 Big-Ip Access Policy Manager
CVE-2021-22991Same product: F5 Big-Ip Access Policy Manager
CVE-2025-36557Same product: F5 Big-Ip Access Policy Manager
CVE-2025-41431Same product: F5 Big-Ip Access Policy Manager
CVE-2023-22323Same product: F5 Big-Ip Access Policy Manager
CVE-2023-22326Same product: F5 Big-Ip Access Policy Manager
CVE-2023-22340Same product: F5 Big-Ip Access Policy Manager
CVE-2023-22418Same product: F5 Big-Ip Access Policy Manager

Affected Assets

f5
big-ip access policy manager
13.1.5, 17.0.0 · 14.1.4.6 — 14.1.5 · 15.1.5.1 — 15.1.8 · 16.1.2.2 — 16.1.3
f5
big-ip advanced firewall manager
13.1.5, 17.0.0 · 14.1.4.6 — 14.1.5 · 15.1.5.1 — 15.1.8 · 16.1.2.2 — 16.1.3
f5
big-ip analytics
13.1.5, 17.0.0 · 14.1.4.6 — 14.1.5 · 15.1.5.1 — 15.1.8 · 16.1.2.2 — 16.1.3
f5
big-ip application acceleration manager
13.1.5, 17.0.0 · 15.1.5.1 — 15.1.8 · 16.1.2.2 — 16.1.3
f5
big-ip application security manager
13.1.0, 17.0.0 · 14.1.4.6 — 14.1.5 · 15.1.5.1 — 15.1.8 · 16.1.2.2 — 16.1.3
f5
big-ip ddos hybrid defender
13.1.5 · 14.1.4.6 — 14.1.5 · 15.1.5.1 — 15.1.8 · 16.1.2.2 — 16.1.3
f5
big-ip domain name system
17.0.0 · 14.1.4.6 — 14.1.5 · 15.1.5.1 — 15.1.8 · 16.1.2.2 — 16.1.3
f5
big-ip fraud protection service
13.1.5, 17.0.0 · 15.1.5.1 — 15.1.8 · 16.1.2.2 — 16.1.3
f5
big-ip link controller
13.1.5, 17.0.0 · 14.1.4.6 — 14.1.5 · 15.1.5.1 — 15.1.8 · 16.1.2.2 — 16.1.3
f5
big-ip local traffic manager
13.1.5, 17.0.0 · 14.1.4.6 — 14.1.5 · 15.1.5.1 — 15.1.8 · 16.1.2.2 — 16.1.3
+2 more product configuration(s) — see NVD for full list

Mitigating Controls

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

Secure SDLC practices directly prevent external format strings via code review, static analysis, and safe APIs.

ID.RA-01 partial match
prevents

Vulnerability identification can discover existing format-string flaws but does not prevent their introduction.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

A.8.29 Security testing in development and acceptance mostly match
finds

Security testing in development can detect format-string vulnerabilities before release.

A.8.25 Secure development life cycle partial match
prevents

Secure SDLC mandates input validation and safe API usage that can prevent externally-controlled format strings.

A.8.26 Application security requirements partial match
prevents

Application security requirements can specify safe formatting functions and ban uncontrolled format strings.

A.8.27 Secure system architecture and engineering principles partial match
prevents

Secure architecture principles discourage dangerous string-handling patterns that lead to format-string issues.

A.8.28 Secure coding partial match
prevents

Secure coding standards directly forbid the use of untrusted format strings and prescribe safe alternatives.

References