# CVE-2023-38138: BIG-IP Configuration utility vulnerability

> Reflected XSS in BIG-IP Configuration utility allows attackers to execute JavaScript in the context of logged-in users.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/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:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 2 Aug 2023
- **Updated:** 27 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-2654-qm47-j43q

## What is CVE-2023-38138?

CVE-2023-38138 is a high-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in F5 Big-Ip Access Policy Manager, published on 2 Aug 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

A reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability exists in an undisclosed page of the BIG-IP Configuration utility which allows an attacker to run JavaScript in the context of the currently logged-in user.  Note: Software versions which have reached End of Technical Support (EoTS) are not evaluated.

Weakness: CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-38138?

It affects 19 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 Application Visibility and Reporting, F5 Big-Ip Carrier-Grade Nat, F5 Big-Ip Ddos Hybrid Defender, F5 Big-Ip Domain Name System, F5 Big-Ip Edge Gateway, 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 Big-Ip Ssl Orchestrator, F5 Big-Ip Webaccelerator, F5 Big-Ip Websafe.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-38138?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-38138 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-38138 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-38138 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-2023-38138 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-38138 is a high-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in F5 Big-Ip Access Policy Manager, published on 2 Aug 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-38138 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-2023-38138/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-38138/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-38138
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-38138
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-38138

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-38138/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.