# CVE-2020-5902: F5 BIG-IP Traffic Management User Interface (TMUI) Remote Code Execution

> Attackers can achieve remote code execution on F5 BIG-IP devices via path traversal in the TMUI Configuration utility.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 3 Nov 2021 (CISA KEV), used in ransomware
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 1 Jul 2020
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-2859-2hr6-f86v

## What is CVE-2020-5902?

CVE-2020-5902 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in F5 Big-Ip Access Policy Manager, published on 1 Jul 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In BIG-IP versions 15.0.0-15.1.0.3, 14.1.0-14.1.2.5, 13.1.0-13.1.3.3, 12.1.0-12.1.5.1, and 11.6.1-11.6.5.1, the Traffic Management User Interface (TMUI), also referred to as the Configuration utility, has a Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerability in undisclosed pages.

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-5902?

It affects 14 products.


Products: F5 Big-Ip Access Policy Manager, F5 Big-Ip Advanced Firewall Manager, F5 Big-Ip Advanced Web Application Firewall, F5 Big-Ip Analytics, F5 Big-Ip Application Acceleration Manager, F5 Big-Ip Application Security Manager, F5 Big-Ip Ddos Hybrid Defender, F5 Big-Ip Domain Name System, F5 Big-Ip Fraud Protection Service, F5 Big-Ip Global Traffic Manager, F5 Big-Ip Link Controller, F5 Big-Ip Local Traffic Manager, F5 Big-Ip Policy Enforcement Manager, F5 Ssl Orchestrator.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-5902?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-5902 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 3 May 2022.

## Is CVE-2020-5902 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2020-5902 in the wild since at least 3 Nov 2021, including in ransomware campaigns.

Public exploit code:

- CVE-2020-5902 BIG-IP (github_poc): https://github.com/jas502n/CVE-2020-5902
- Proof of concept for CVE-2020-5902 (github_poc): https://github.com/yassineaboukir/CVE-2020-5902
- F5 BIG-IP RCE CVE-2020-5902 automatic check tool (github_poc): https://github.com/theLSA/f5-bigip-rce-cve-2020-5902
- Automated script for F5 BIG-IP scanner (CVE-2020-5902) using hosts retrieved from Shodan API. (github_poc): https://github.com/aqhmal/CVE-2020-5902-Scanner
- exploit code for  F5-Big-IP (CVE-2020-5902) (github_poc): https://github.com/yasserjanah/CVE-2020-5902
- Python script to exploit F5 Big-IP CVE-2020-5902  (github_poc): https://github.com/dunderhay/CVE-2020-5902

## 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-2026-94127](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-94127/): F5 BIG-IP APM Heap-based Buffer Overflow (critical 9.3, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-5902 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-5902 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in F5 Big-Ip Access Policy Manager, published on 1 Jul 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2020-5902 in the wild since at least 3 Nov 2021, including in ransomware campaigns.

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-2020-5902/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-5902/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-5902
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-5902
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-5902

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-5902/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.