CVE-2022-1388

CVE-2022-1388 is a significant software vulnerability identified in the F5 BIG-IP system, specifically in the iControl REST interface. This flaw allows unauthorized bypass of the authentication process, providing potential attackers with unauthorized access to the system. Initial access is typically achieved by exploiting public-facing networking devices like Citrix Netscaler, F5 BIG-IP, Pulse Secure/Ivanti VPNs, and PanOS firewalls. Among these, the F5 BIG-IP exploit (CVE-2022-1388) has been particularly noteworthy. The vulnerability has been actively exploited by various threat actors, including the group known as BlackTech. In terms of prevalence, it was the fourth most frequently detected exploit over a 30-day period, following closely behind two VMware vulnerabilities (CVE-2022-22954 and CVE-2022-22960). Despite this, the F5 BIG-IP vulnerability (CVE-2022-1388) remains a significant concern due to its potential for granting unauthorized system access. In a broader context, the Log4j vulnerability (CVE-2021-44228) accounted for the largest portion of known exploits at 44%. However, when combined with the F5 BIG-IP vulnerability (CVE-2022-1388) and a VMware vulnerability (CVE-2022-22954), these three vulnerabilities represented nearly 90% of all exploits. Therefore, while the F5 BIG-IP vulnerability may not be the most common, it is part of a trio of vulnerabilities that collectively pose a substantial cyber threat.