# CVE-2017-6131: Hardcoded credentials in BIG-IP Azure cloud instance

> Attackers can remotely access F5 BIG-IP Azure instances via SSH using a default administrative password created during deployment.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 23 May 2017
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-jgc9-5f5f-87mg

## What is CVE-2017-6131?

CVE-2017-6131 is a critical vulnerability in F5 Big-Ip Access Policy Manager, published on 23 May 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In some circumstances, an F5 BIG-IP version 12.0.0 to 12.1.2 and 13.0.0 Azure cloud instance may contain a default administrative password which could be used to remotely log into the BIG-IP system. The impacted administrative account is the Azure instance administrative user that was created at deployment. The root and admin accounts are not vulnerable. An attacker may be able to remotely access the BIG-IP host via SSH.

Weakness: CWE-798 (Use of Hard-coded Credentials)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-6131?

It affects 9 products.


Products: F5 Big-Ip Access Policy Manager, F5 Big-Ip Advanced Firewall Manager, F5 Big-Ip Application Acceleration Manager, F5 Big-Ip Application Security Manager, F5 Big-Ip Domain Name System, F5 Big-Ip Link Controller, F5 Big-Ip Local Traffic Manager, F5 Big-Ip Policy Enforcement Manager, F5 Big-Ip Websafe.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-6131?

No fix has been published for CVE-2017-6131 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2017-6131 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-6131 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in F5 Big-Ip Access Policy Manager

- [CVE-2023-46747](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-46747/): F5 BIG-IP Configuration Utility Authentication Bypass (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-1388](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-1388/): F5 BIG-IP Missing Authentication (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-22986](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-22986/): F5 BIG-IP and BIG-IQ Centralized Management iControl REST Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-22991](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-22991/): F5 BIG-IP Traffic Management Microkernel Buffer Overflow (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-5902](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-5902/): F5 BIG-IP Traffic Management User Interface (TMUI) Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-6131 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-6131 is a critical vulnerability in F5 Big-Ip Access Policy Manager, published on 23 May 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-6131 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: F5 Big-Ip Access Policy Manager. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-6131/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-6131/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-6131
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-6131
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-6131

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-6131/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.