# CVE-2018-5529: Privilege escalation in BIG-IP APM client for Linux and Mac OSX

> An unprivileged local user can exploit the privileged svpn component to gain super-user privileges, read sensitive data, modify data, or disrupt service on the client host.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 12 Jul 2018
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-xv84-c645-853v

## What is CVE-2018-5529?

CVE-2018-5529 is a high-severity vulnerability in F5 Big-Ip Access Policy Manager, published on 12 Jul 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The svpn component of the F5 BIG-IP APM client prior to version 7.1.7 for Linux and Mac OS X runs as a privileged process and can allow an unprivileged user to assume super-user privileges on the local client host. A malicious local unprivileged user may gain knowledge of sensitive information, manipulate certain data, or disrupt service.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-5529?

It affects 2 products.


Products: F5 Big-Ip Access Policy Manager, F5 Big-Ip Edge.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-5529?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-5529 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-5529 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-5529 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-2018-5529 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-5529 is a high-severity vulnerability in F5 Big-Ip Access Policy Manager, published on 12 Jul 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-5529 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-2018-5529/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-5529/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-5529
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-5529
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-5529

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-5529/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.