CVE-2023-46748: F5 BIG-IP Configuration Utility SQL Injection Vulnerability

55

High

Who exploits it and how urgent it is

A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.

CISA KEV · Oct 31, 2023

How the score was calculated

Confirmed exploitation (CISA KEV)+35
EPSS 4.5% (30-day exploitation probability)+14
Technical severity (high)+6

The score orders the patch queue; it does not replace your asset context (internet exposure, criticality, compensating controls).

Triage

Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the sources call it.

Exploitation

Confirmed

CISA KEV, listed Oct 31, 2023

EPSS FIRST

4.47%

ahead of 91% of scored CVEs · Oct 14, 2026

Affects

F5

BIG-IP and 20 more

CVSS base

8.8

High · 4 source(s)

CISA SSVC assessment CISA

Three decision points CISA publishes for the CVEs it assesses (SSVC 2.0.3). A stakeholder decision, not a severity score.

Exploitation

Active

none · proof-of-concept · active

Automatable

No

can an attacker script the kill-chain steps

Technical impact

Total

partial · total control of the vulnerable component

Remediation

Fixes and mitigations documented by the sources — linked to the original advisory.

No fix documented by the sources we poll. That does not mean none exists: check the vendor advisory.

CISA required action CISA

Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

US federal deadline: Nov 21, 2023 — passed 1059 day(s) ago

First 24 hours

Ordered from the record’s own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found. A rule-generated starting point.

Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations (F5 BIG-IP, F5 Big-ip Access Policy Manager, F5 Big-ip Advanced Firewall Manager…).
Treat as emergency remediation: the CVE is in CISA KEV (confirmed exploitation).
No fix documented in the sources: reduce exposure and monitor the vendor advisory.
EPSS ahead of 91% of scored CVEs: prioritize it in the patch queue.
Search available logs for exploit probes matching the vulnerability class (injection), errors and authentication anomalies.

Affected scope

Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.

Vendor	Product	Versions	Status	Source
F5	BIG-IP	≥ 17.1.0≥ 16.1.0≥ 15.1.0≥ 14.1.0≥ 13.1.0	Vulnerable	CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP
F5	Big-ip Access Policy Manager	≥ 13.1.0 and ≤ 13.1.5≥ 14.1.0 and ≤ 14.1.5≥ 15.1.0 and ≤ 15.1.10≥ 16.1.0 and ≤ 16.1.4≥ 17.1.0 and ≤ 17.1.1	Vulnerable	NIST National Vulnerability Database
F5	Big-ip Advanced Firewall Manager	≥ 13.1.0 and ≤ 13.1.5≥ 14.1.0 and ≤ 14.1.5≥ 15.1.0 and ≤ 15.1.10≥ 16.1.0 and ≤ 16.1.4≥ 17.1.0 and ≤ 17.1.1	Vulnerable	NIST National Vulnerability Database
F5	Big-ip Advanced Web Application Firewall	≥ 13.1.0 and ≤ 13.1.5≥ 14.1.0 and ≤ 14.1.5≥ 15.1.0 and ≤ 15.1.10≥ 16.1.0 and ≤ 16.1.4≥ 17.1.0 and ≤ 17.1.1	Vulnerable	NIST National Vulnerability Database
F5	Big-ip Analytics	≥ 13.1.0 and ≤ 13.1.5≥ 14.1.0 and ≤ 14.1.5≥ 15.1.0 and ≤ 15.1.10≥ 16.1.0 and ≤ 16.1.4≥ 17.1.0 and ≤ 17.1.1	Vulnerable	NIST National Vulnerability Database
F5	Big-ip Application Acceleration Manager	≥ 13.1.0 and ≤ 13.1.5≥ 14.1.0 and ≤ 14.1.5≥ 15.1.0 and ≤ 15.1.10≥ 16.1.0 and ≤ 16.1.4≥ 17.1.0 and ≤ 17.1.1	Vulnerable	NIST National Vulnerability Database
F5	Big-ip Application Security Manager	≥ 13.1.0 and ≤ 13.1.5≥ 14.1.0 and ≤ 14.1.5≥ 15.1.0 and ≤ 15.1.10≥ 16.1.0 and ≤ 16.1.4≥ 17.1.0 and ≤ 17.1.1	Vulnerable	NIST National Vulnerability Database
F5	Big-ip Application Visibility And Reporting	≥ 13.1.0 and ≤ 13.1.5≥ 14.1.0 and ≤ 14.1.5≥ 15.1.0 and ≤ 15.1.10≥ 16.1.0 and ≤ 16.1.4≥ 17.1.0 and ≤ 17.1.1	Vulnerable	NIST National Vulnerability Database
F5	Big-ip Automation Toolchain	≥ 13.1.0 and ≤ 13.1.5≥ 14.1.0 and ≤ 14.1.5≥ 15.1.0 and ≤ 15.1.10≥ 16.1.0 and ≤ 16.1.4≥ 17.1.0 and ≤ 17.1.1	Vulnerable	NIST National Vulnerability Database
F5	Big-ip Carrier-grade Nat	≥ 13.1.0 and ≤ 13.1.5≥ 14.1.0 and ≤ 14.1.5≥ 15.1.0 and ≤ 15.1.10≥ 16.1.0 and ≤ 16.1.4≥ 17.1.0 and ≤ 17.1.1	Vulnerable	NIST National Vulnerability Database
F5	Big-ip Container Ingress Services	≥ 13.1.0 and ≤ 13.1.5≥ 14.1.0 and ≤ 14.1.5≥ 15.1.0 and ≤ 15.1.10≥ 16.1.0 and ≤ 16.1.4≥ 17.1.0 and ≤ 17.1.1	Vulnerable	NIST National Vulnerability Database
F5	Big-ip Ddos Hybrid Defender	≥ 13.1.0 and ≤ 13.1.5≥ 14.1.0 and ≤ 14.1.5≥ 15.1.0 and ≤ 15.1.10≥ 16.1.0 and ≤ 16.1.4≥ 17.1.0 and ≤ 17.1.1	Vulnerable	NIST National Vulnerability Database
F5	Big-ip Domain Name System	≥ 13.1.0 and ≤ 13.1.5≥ 14.1.0 and ≤ 14.1.5≥ 15.1.0 and ≤ 15.1.10≥ 16.1.0 and ≤ 16.1.4≥ 17.1.0 and ≤ 17.1.1	Vulnerable	NIST National Vulnerability Database
F5	Big-ip Fraud Protection Services	≥ 13.1.0 and ≤ 13.1.5≥ 14.1.0 and ≤ 14.1.5≥ 15.1.0 and ≤ 15.1.10≥ 16.1.0 and ≤ 16.1.4≥ 17.1.0 and ≤ 17.1.1	Vulnerable	NIST National Vulnerability Database
F5	Big-ip Global Traffic Manager	≥ 13.1.0 and ≤ 13.1.5≥ 14.1.0 and ≤ 14.1.5≥ 15.1.0 and ≤ 15.1.10≥ 16.1.0 and ≤ 16.1.4≥ 17.1.0 and ≤ 17.1.1	Vulnerable	NIST National Vulnerability Database
F5	Big-ip Link Controller	≥ 13.1.0 and ≤ 13.1.5≥ 14.1.0 and ≤ 14.1.5≥ 15.1.0 and ≤ 15.1.10≥ 16.1.0 and ≤ 16.1.4≥ 17.1.0 and ≤ 17.1.1	Vulnerable	NIST National Vulnerability Database
F5	Big-ip Local Traffic Manager	≥ 13.1.0 and ≤ 13.1.5≥ 14.1.0 and ≤ 14.1.5≥ 15.1.0 and ≤ 15.1.10≥ 16.1.0 and ≤ 16.1.4≥ 17.1.0 and ≤ 17.1.1	Vulnerable	NIST National Vulnerability Database
F5	Big-ip Policy Enforcement Manager	≥ 13.1.0 and ≤ 13.1.5≥ 14.1.0 and ≤ 14.1.5≥ 15.1.0 and ≤ 15.1.10≥ 16.1.0 and ≤ 16.1.4≥ 17.1.0 and ≤ 17.1.1	Vulnerable	NIST National Vulnerability Database
F5	Big-ip Ssl Orchestrator	≥ 13.1.0 and ≤ 13.1.5≥ 14.1.0 and ≤ 14.1.5≥ 15.1.0 and ≤ 15.1.10≥ 16.1.0 and ≤ 16.1.4≥ 17.1.0 and ≤ 17.1.1	Vulnerable	NIST National Vulnerability Database
F5	Big-ip Webaccelerator	≥ 13.1.0 and ≤ 13.1.5≥ 14.1.0 and ≤ 14.1.5≥ 15.1.0 and ≤ 15.1.10≥ 16.1.0 and ≤ 16.1.4≥ 17.1.0 and ≤ 17.1.1	Vulnerable	NIST National Vulnerability Database
F5	Big-ip Websafe	≥ 13.1.0 and ≤ 13.1.5≥ 14.1.0 and ≤ 14.1.5≥ 15.1.0 and ≤ 15.1.10≥ 16.1.0 and ≤ 16.1.4≥ 17.1.0 and ≤ 17.1.1	Vulnerable	NIST National Vulnerability Database

Attack characteristics

The CVSS vector, decoded. It describes the attack, not your exposure to it.

Attack vector

Network

Attack complexity

Low

Privileges required

Low

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High

Every base score collected

Sources score independently and may disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.

Score	Version	Severity	Expl.	Impact	Scored by
8.8	CVSS 3.1	High	2.8	5.9	f5sirt@f5.com via NIST National Vulnerability Database
8.8	CVSS 3.1	High	2.8	5.9	nvd@nist.gov via NIST National Vulnerability Database
8.8	CVSS 3.1	High	—	—	GitHub, Inc. via GitHub Security Advisories
8.8	CVSS 3.1	High	—	—	f5 via CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H (score shown at the top: nvd@nist.gov)

Weakness MITRE

Weakness class according to MITRE’s CWE catalog.

CWE-89 · SQL Injection

Other CVEs with this weakness →

CISA KEV details CISA

CISA lists a CVE once it has evidence of exploitation against real targets.

Listed

Oct 31, 2023

Federal deadline

Nov 21, 2023

passed 1059 day(s) ago

Ransomware use

Unknown

CISA records ransomware use only for campaigns it has confirmed, so “Unknown” means unrecorded, not ruled out. The deadline binds US federal agencies; for everyone else it is a reference date.

EPSS over time FIRST

Oct 13, 2026 → Oct 14, 2026 · 2 reading(s) · max 4.47%

Detection

Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.

Prioritize edge telemetry for the network-reachable component (proxy, WAF, IDS/IPS).
Look for parameters with command/query metacharacters and unexpected child processes of the service.
Hunt retroactively in logs from before Oct 31, 2023 (KEV listing): exploitation may have started earlier.

web/proxy/WAF logsnetwork IDS/IPSapplication logsendpoint telemetry (EDR)

Timeline

What happened to this CVE, newest first.

2026
Affected products added · f5/big-ip
Oct 13, 2026 · CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP
SSVC assessment updated
Oct 13, 2026 · CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP
Record published
Oct 13, 2026
Affected products added · f5/big-ip access policy manager, f5/big-ip advanced firewall manager, f5/big-ip carrier-grade nat, f5/big-ip ddos hybrid
Oct 13, 2026 · NIST National Vulnerability Database
CVSS changed · 8.8
Oct 13, 2026 · NIST National Vulnerability Database
Source status changed · → Analyzed
Oct 13, 2026 · NIST National Vulnerability Database
Added to CISA KEV (detected)
Oct 13, 2026 · CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities
Record created in this database
Oct 13, 2026 · CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities
2023
Added to CISA KEV catalog
Oct 30, 2023 · CISA
CVE published
Oct 26, 2023 · f5

Source activity

Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.

2× References added · Oct 13, 2026 – Oct 13, 2026
1× Official description updated · Oct 13, 2026 – Oct 13, 2026

References

6 on the record

my.f5.com/manage/s/article/K000137365
Vendor Advisory, vendor-advisory, NIST National Vulnerability Database
www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog
US Government Resource, NIST National Vulnerability Database
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-46748
GitHub Security Advisories
www.secpod.com/blog/f5-issues-warning-big-ip-vulnerability-used-in-active-exploit-ch
Exploit, Third Party Advisory, NIST National Vulnerability Database
www.secpod.com/blog/f5-issues-warning-big-ip-vulnerability-used-in-active-exploit-ch
GitHub Security Advisories
github.com/advisories/GHSA-9h42-3pgf-qjc8
GitHub Security Advisories

Elsewhere on this site

F5
every CVE for this vendor

2023-10
what else CISA listed that month

Injection
same class

CWE-89
other pages naming this weakness

Related CVEs (same products)

Critical CVE-2026-94127 F5 BIG-IP APM Heap-based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability KEV 23d
Medium CVE-2026-42937 iControl REST and tmsh vulnerability May 13, 2026
High CVE-2026-42924 BIG-IP iControl SOAP vulnerability May 13, 2026
High CVE-2026-42930 Appliance mode iControl REST vulnerability May 13, 2026
Medium CVE-2026-42919 F5 BIG-IP Appliance Mode Vulnerability May 13, 2026
High CVE-2026-42920 BIG-IP DTLS Vulnerability May 13, 2026

Not in any source we poll

Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.

No fixed version, patch or mitigation documented.
No confirmed IOCs, IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or malware artifacts supplied.
No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.

Answered from this record

Text assembled only from the fields above — no additional claims.

What should defenders know first?

CVE-2023-46748 is "F5 BIG-IP Configuration Utility SQL Injection Vulnerability", rated High. It affects BIG-IP (F5); versions are in the scope table. It is in CISA KEV: there is evidence of real-world exploitation. CVSS 8.8 describes technical severity. EPSS 4.47% estimates the probability of exploitation in 30 days; neither replaces your asset context. First verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run the affected versions, apply vendor fixes or mitigations, and preserve logs for review.

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