CVE-2023-3470

BIG-IP FIPS HSM password vulnerability CVE-2023-3470

MEDIUM
6.1
CVSS Score
Published: August 2, 2023 at 03:54 PM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 06:14 AM UTC
42 products affected across 1 vendorBig IP Access Policy ManagerBig IP Application Security ManagerBig IP Advanced Firewall Manager

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Severity
MEDIUM6.1
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.2%
SSVC
No known exploit

Description

Specific F5 BIG-IP platforms with Cavium Nitrox FIPS HSM cards generate a deterministic password for the Crypto User account.  The predictable nature of the password allows an authenticated user with TMSH access to the BIG-IP system, or anyone with physical access to the FIPS HSM, the information required to generate the correct password.  On vCMP systems, all Guests share the same deterministic password, allowing those with TMSH access on one Guest to access keys of a different Guest. The following BIG-IP hardware platforms are affected: 10350v-F, i5820-DF, i7820-DF, i15820-DF, 5250v-F, 7200v-F, 10200v-F, 6900-F, 8900-F, 11000-F, and 11050-F. The BIG-IP rSeries r5920-DF and r10920-DF are not affected, nor does the issue affect software FIPS implementations or network HSM configurations. Note: Software versions which have reached End of Technical Support (EoTS) are not evaluated.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

All versions
f5-big-ip-10200v-f (same device)
All versions
f5-big-ip-10350v-f (same device)
All versions
f5-big-ip-11000-f (same device)
All versions
f5-big-ip-11050-f (same device)
All versions
f5-big-ip-5250v-f (same device)
All versions
f5-big-ip-6900-f (same device)
All versions
f5-big-ip-7200v-f (same device)
All versions
f5-big-ip-8900-f (same device)
13.1.0 ≤ v < 13.1.414.1.0 ≤ v < 14.1.415.1.0
Affected range stops below 13.1.4, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 14.1.4, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
13.1.0 ≤ v < 13.1.414.1.0 ≤ v < 14.1.415.1.0
Affected range stops below 13.1.4, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 14.1.4, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet. What the record does show:

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCNo known exploitNot automatableTotal impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

Attack Vector
PHYSICAL
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
NONE
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
HIGH
Integrity
HIGH
Availability
NONE
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED
CWE
CWE-1391CWE-287

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