CVE-2018-5506
9.8 · CRITICALOverview
CVE-2018-5506 is a critical-severity vulnerability affecting f5 big-ip_local_traffic_manager. It was published on April 13, 2018 and has a CVSS 3.0 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL).
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.0 base score of 9.8, rated CRITICAL. It can be exploited remotely over the network. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.
Technical Description
In F5 BIG-IP 13.0.0, 12.1.0-12.1.2, 11.6.1, 11.5.1-11.5.5, or 11.2.1 the Apache modules apache_auth_token_mod and mod_auth_f5_auth_token.cpp allow possible unauthenticated bruteforce on the em_server_ip authorization parameter to obtain which SSL client certificates used for mutual authentication between BIG-IQ or Enterprise Manager (EM) and managed BIG-IP devices.
Remediation
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from f5. Update big-ip_local_traffic_manager to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| f5 | big-ip_local_traffic_manager | 11.5.1 | Affected |
| f5 | big-ip_application_acceleration_manager | 11.5.1 | Affected |
| f5 | big-ip_advanced_firewall_manager | 11.5.1 | Affected |
| f5 | big-ip_analytics | 11.5.1 | Affected |
| f5 | big-ip_access_policy_manager | 11.5.1 | Affected |
| f5 | big-ip_application_security_manager | 11.5.1 | Affected |
| f5 | big-ip_edge_gateway | 11.5.1 | Affected |
| f5 | big-ip_global_traffic_manager | 11.5.1 | Affected |
| f5 | big-ip_link_controller | 11.5.1 | Affected |
| f5 | big-ip_policy_enforcement_manager | 11.5.1 | Affected |
| f5 | big-ip_webaccelerator | 11.5.1 | Affected |
| f5 | big-ip_websafe | 11.5.1 | Affected |
| f5 | big-ip_domain_name_system | 11.5.1 | Affected |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2018-5506?
CVE-2018-5506 is a critical-severity vulnerability affecting f5 big-ip_local_traffic_manager. It was published on April 13, 2018 and has a CVSS 3.0 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL).
How severe is CVE-2018-5506?
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.0 base score of 9.8, rated CRITICAL. It can be exploited remotely over the network. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.
How do I fix or remediate CVE-2018-5506?
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from f5. Update big-ip_local_traffic_manager to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
How can CyberStrike help with CVE-2018-5506?
CyberStrike's AI-powered security agents can automatically detect CVE-2018-5506 across your infrastructure using autonomous pentesting, DAST scanning, and HackBrowser. The platform continuously monitors for known vulnerabilities and provides actionable remediation guidance prioritized by real-world exploitability.
How CyberStrike Helps
AI agents map your attack surface to find vulnerabilities like this one.
Automated penetration testing that runs continuously, not just quarterly.
AI-driven PR review catches vulnerable dependencies before they ship.
Browser-based exploitation validates findings with real proof-of-concept.
Related CRITICAL CVEs from 2018
View all →A Buffer Overflow issue was discovered in Rockwell Automation Allen-Bradley MicroLogix 1400 Controll
Vulnerability in the Sun ZFS Storage Appliance Kit (AK) component of Oracle Sun Systems Products Sui
A vulnerability in the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) VPN functionality of the Cisco Adaptive Security A
A authentication bypass and execution of code vulnerability in HPE Integrated Lights-out 4 (iLO 4) v
An issue was discovered in Adobe Acrobat Reader 2018.009.20050 and earlier versions, 2017.011.30070
I Librarian I-librarian version 4.8 and earlier contains a XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability i
Analysis of the Bomgar Remote Support Portal JavaStart.jar Applet 52790 and earlier revealed that it
MySQL for PCF tiles 1.7.x before 1.7.10 were discovered to log the AWS access key in plaintext. Thes
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. macOS before 10.13.3 is affected. The issue invol
An exploitable access control vulnerability exists in the data, program, and function file permissio
An exploitable access control vulnerability exists in the data, program, and function file permissio
An exploitable access control vulnerability exists in the data, program, and function file permissio