F5 Networks BIG-IP : iControl REST and tmsh vulnerability (K000160788)

high Nessus Plugin ID 316117

Synopsis

The remote device is missing a vendor-supplied security patch.

Description

The version of F5 Networks BIG-IP installed on the remote host is prior to 17.1.3.1 / 17.5.1.4 / 21.0.0.1. It is, therefore, affected by a vulnerability as referenced in the K000160788 advisory.

When BIG-IP DNS is provisioned, a vulnerability exists in an undisclosed iControl REST and BIG-IP TMOS Shell (tmsh) command that may allow an authenticated attacker with the Resource Administrator or Administrator role to execute arbitrary system commands with higher privileges. In Appliance mode deployments, a successful exploit can allow the attacker to cross a security boundary.(CVE-2026-40061)

Tenable has extracted the preceding description block directly from the F5 Networks BIG-IP security advisory.

Note that Nessus has not tested for this issue but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version number.

Solution

Upgrade to one of the non-vulnerable versions listed in the F5 Solution K000160788.

See Also

https://my.f5.com/manage/s/article/K000160788

Plugin Details

Severity: High

ID: 316117

File Name: f5_bigip_SOL000160788.nasl

Version: 1.1

Type: Local

Published: 5/21/2026

Updated: 5/21/2026

Supported Sensors: Nessus

Risk Information

VPR

Risk Factor: High

Score: 7.1

CVSS v2

Risk Factor: High

Base Score: 7.7

Temporal Score: 5.7

Vector: CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:M/C:C/I:C/A:N

CVSS Score Source: CVE-2026-40061

CVSS v3

Risk Factor: High

Base Score: 8.7

Temporal Score: 7.6

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N

Temporal Vector: CVSS:3.0/E:U/RL:O/RC:C

CVSS v4

Risk Factor: High

Base Score: 8.5

Threat Score: 6

Threat Vector: CVSS:4.0/E:U

Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Vulnerability Information

CPE: cpe:/a:f5:big-ip_domain_name_system, cpe:/h:f5:big-ip, cpe:/a:f5:big-ip_global_traffic_manager

Required KB Items: Host/local_checks_enabled, Host/BIG-IP/hotfix, Host/BIG-IP/modules, Host/BIG-IP/version

Exploit Ease: No known exploits are available

Patch Publication Date: 5/13/2026

Vulnerability Publication Date: 5/13/2026

Reference Information

CVE: CVE-2026-40061